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ALICE T. PICKFORD, 


PHILADELPHIA : 

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Step by Step 


OR, 


THE LORD’S LEADING. 


BY 

ALICE T.'^ICKFORD. 


" Sometimes 'mid scenes of deepest gloom, 
Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom, 
By waters still, o'er troubled sea. 

Still 'tis his hand that leadeth me." 


VV OEC 12 1891 


PHILADELPHIA I 


AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY, 

1420 Chestnut Street. 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1891, by the 
AMEKICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 


CONTENTS, 


PAGE 


CHAPTEK I. 

Sorrows, 5 

CHAPTEK 11. 

New Plans, 20 

CHAPTER III. 

Eirst Day at The Springs, 33 

CHAPTER lY. 

Enduring, 49 

CHAPTER Y. 

A Day of Refreshing, 69 

CHAPTER YI. 

Home Again, 67 

CHAPTER YII. 

Duty, 74 

CHAPTER YIII. 

Agnes at Eighteen, 80 

CHAPTER IX. 

Agnes Sails to Bermuda, 87 

CHAPTER X. 

New Sights, 99 


3 


4 CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

CHAPTEK XL 

A Burden on Agnes, 109 

CHAPTEK XII. 

Old Acquaintances, 120 

CHAPTER XIIL 

A Confession, 128 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Other Days, 134 

CHAPTER XV. 

Herbert’s Decision, 143 

CHAPTER XVI. 

A Revelation, 149 

CHAPTER XVII. 

Taking Leave of Bermuda, 167 

CHAPTER XVIIL 

Agnes and Her Scholars 162 

CHAPTER XIX. 

Surprises for Agnes, 172 

CHAPTER XX. 

The Outcome, 178 

CHAPTER XXL 

An Open Letter, 185 

CHAPTER XXIL 

Agnes and Louise in Contrast, 189 


STEP BY STEP 


CHAPTER 1. 

SORROW. 

rpHE sun had just set, and the chill December day 
was drawing to a close. It was the hour which 
drags so heavily, when one has nothing very special to 
do ; when work and books must be laid aside, and we 
often hear the remark, “ I wish it were time for lights.’^ 
A lady was just taking her leave at the door of one of 
the nice-looking residences in a certain city ; but could 
you have entered the house she had just left, you would 
have found anything but a cheerful aspect inside. 

In the library an open fire was just dying, and the red 
embers were fast becoming black. On the rug before 
the fireplace lay a little girl of eleven years. She took 
no notice of the fire or any of her surroundings, but lay 
with her face buried in her hands, while sob after sob 
broke the stillness of the room. 

Her grief was growing more and more violent, when 

a gentleman opened the door and quietly entered. Going 

6 


6 


STEP BY STEP. 


up to her as she lay on the floor, he raised her tenderly 
and placed her on the sofa in the further corner of the 
room. Her sobs continued, however, and she did not 
appear to notice her change of position. 

“ Agnes, my child,’’ said the gentleman at last, placing 
his hand on her hot forehead and smoothing back the 
tumbled hair, “ what troubles you so ? ” 

A sob louder than ever burst forth, and in a perfect 
storm of tears the child exclaimed ; I can’t bear her ! 
I can’t bear her ! ” 

Cannot bear whom ? What is the trouble ? ” 

“ Mrs. Carlton. She said my mamma was never going 
to get well. I don’t believe it ; and I can’t bear her for 
saying such a thing.” 

A shadow came across the gentleman’s face, and in a 
husky voice he said : 

“You must not cry so, my child. You will disturb 
your mother, besides making yourself ill.” 

I can’t help it,” she sobbed. ‘‘ It is not so ; is it, 
papa? ” 

What could he say to her, when his own heart was 
almost breaking? How comfort another, when he so 
sorely needed comforting himself? But, feeling that 
something must be done, he lifted the child into his lap, 
and though scarcely able to command his voice, said : 

“ Agnes, be still and listen to me.” 

The sobs grew somewhat quieter. But a low moan 


STEP BY STEP. 


7 


every now and then, as well as the heaving breast, told 
that the tempest had not yet passed. 

“ My daughter,” he continued, “ I want you to be a 
good, brave girl. If you cry so, mamma will hear you 
and be disturbed ; and she has but just gone to sleep. 
Now tell me what Mrs. Carlton said to you.” 

“ She looked at me and said : ‘ Poor child I Do you 
know how ill your mother is?’ I said I knew that 
mamma was sick, and had been for a long time ; but that 
I thought she was getting better. Then she said : ‘ Your 
mother can never be any better in this world.’ I told 
her I didn’t know how she knew, and that she had no 
right to speak so to me. And then I ran out of the room. 
I would not hear another word. She is a very unkind 
woman.” 

Here the self-control was completely gone again ; and 
her father could only clasp her in his arms and wait for 
the storm to pass. In the mean time his thoughts were 
with his sick wife, in the room above. He knew what 
the end must be. He had known it for some time, un- 
willing as he was to admit it even to himself. The hollow 
cough and dark eyes spoke to him plainer than words 
could speak, of the inevitable. Then his thoughts re- 
turned to his little girl, sobbing in his arms. He was 
sorry and almost provoked at first that the recent visitor 
had been so injudicious as to break the news to his child 
in such a way. Still, as he thought on, perhaps it was 


8 


STEP BY STEP. 


better so. He could not have concealed the truth much 
longer. She must have known it soon. Why not now ? 

By this time the little girl was somewhat quieter, and 
her father again commenced to reason with her. 

“ Agnes, you know your dear mamma has been very 
ill, and at times has suffered intensely. Would you not 
be glad to think of her as well and strong again ? ” 

Oh, yes, papa,” came the eager answer. 

“ Then listen to me. K Jesus will make her so, should 
you be so very unhappy about it ? ” 

“ But I don’t want her to die. I want her to get well 
again without dying. Can’t Jesus do that, papa ? ” By 
this time her lips were quivering again. 

For a moment there was silence in the room, broken 
only by the tick of the clock and the quick drawn breath 
of the child. It was only for a moment, however, and 
Mr. Rice was ready to speak. 

“Do you remember last spring, when you were just 
getting well from diphtheria, and begged so hard to go 
out of doors, just for a little walk ? ” 

“Yes, papa; and Dr. Stevens would not let me.” 

“ Why would he not let you ? ” 

“ It would not have been best. You see I might 
have taken cold and been sick again. Perhaps I 
might never have got well. Dr. Stevens knew better 
than I did.” 

“Yes, my child. It would certainly have been the 


STEP BY STEP. 


9 


worst possible thing for you, had he let you have your 
own way, would it not ? ’’ 

“ Yes, sir.” 

“Do you think the Lord is unkind, then, because, 
being able to look ahead and see the end from the begin- 
ning, he denies his children what he sees is not for their 
best good ? ” 

“ No, papa,” came in a subdued voice. 

“ You are his child, you know, Aggie.” 

“ I know it, and I really do love him.” 

“ Then can you not trust him ? ” 

Silence again for a few minutes, which was broken by 
the little girl. 

“ Why is it not best for mamma to get well ? ” 

Mr. Rice almost caught his breath. Frail human na- 
ture had nearly caused him to ask the same question ; 
but having fought the ground all over already, he was 
ready with an answer. It was simply this, however ; 

“ I do not know. But my Heavenly Father does ; and 
I can trust the Captain of my Salvation, who never made 
a mistake.” 

A little sigh was the only answer to this, and then 
Agnes lay quiet in her father’s arms. A long time he 
held her there. Whether she were asleep or not, he 
could not tell ; but her eyes were closed, and she was 
quiet. At last he rose and placed her carefully on the 
sofa. Then he walked over to the grate, mended the fire 


10 


STEP BY STEP. 


SO that the blaze sent a cheerful light flickering tnrough 
the whole room. Going back to the sofa, he saw that 
she had not moved ; so noiselessly he left the room. 

When the door had closed, Agnes rose from the sofa, 
and, kneeling by its side, buried her face in the pillow. 
For a moment she was silent. Then she said : 

“ Dear Lord, I need thy help very, very much, or I 
cannot be willing to give up my precious mamma. Thou 
hast said thou wilt help us when we are in trouble. 
Please help me, and make me willing to say, ‘ Thy will 
be done,’ for Jesus’ sake. Amen.” 

The tears were flowing again by the time she had fin- 
ished her petition ; but the bitterness that had character- 
ized her first grief was all gone. These tears were like 
the last drops of a shower, when the sun has already 
broken through the clouds ; and she felt quieter after 
they were over. How long she knelt there, she could 
not have told. She thought not of time, or how it was 
passing. She had gone through a hard struggle — one such 
as few children of her age are called upon to pass through ; 
but she had come off conqueror through him that loved 
her. She did not doubt but that the Lord would do 
right. 

Suddenly, however, there came to her mind a Bible 
verse that she had read only that morning: “All 
things work together for good to them that love God.” 
Was it possible that this was really to be for her 


STEP BY STEP. 


11 


good? She had only thought of it as something she 
must bear because it was God’s will ; the thought that it 
was in some way for her good had not entered her mind. 
She knew the meaning of the last part of the verse — 
“ Them that love God.” That meant her surely. She 
had never doubted that fact since she gave herself to him 
the summer before. She made the surrender then for 
time and eternity, and she had confessed him before the 
world. So here was a promise to her; just as much to 
her as though it had read, “Agnes Rice.” It must he one 
of the “ all things.” She loved her mother as few girls 
of her age are capable of loving any one : but she loved 
her Saviour more. If it were his will — if he saw best for 
it to be so — she would trust him. 

The victory was complete now. She rose from her 
knees and went out into the dining room. Tea was over, 
but her fatuer had ordered hers to be kept until she 
should want it. The servant eyed her critically while 
she was eating. The meal was taken mechanically, yet 
she was perfectly calm. When she had finished and the 
door closed on her, Jane said, half aloud ; 

“ That child is a perfect riddle to me. A couple of 
hours ago she was crying and taking on at a great rate 
in the library, and now she comes out and eats her supper 
without a word or a tear. She’s a peculiar child, sure. 
How some folks can rave so one minute, and be calm as 
a mill pond the next, I don’t see, nor never could.” 


12 


STEP BY STEP. 


Poor soul ! She knew nothing of the help Agnes had 
sought and found — knew not what it meant to have a 
Saviour to help in time of need. 

Agnes went directly to her room when she had finished 
her supper ; and though sadder than ever before in her 
life, she could say amid it all : “ Thanks be to God, who 
giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.'^ 
Then, being exhausted by her long struggle, she soon fell 
asleep. 

The days that followed might be said to be simply days 
of waiting. Although tears might flow, and hearts be 
near breaking, when the messenger of death really came, 
the fiercest struggle was already past, and father and 
daughter simply sat with folded hands, as it were, and 
awaited the inevitable. They thought little, cared little 
about the outside world. Agnes heard not the comments 
that her first violent grief had called forth. Some people 
were free with their opinions on the subject. Said one 
of the elder sisters in the church : 

“ It’s simply dreadful, the way Agnes Rice takes on 
about her mother. They say she is perfectly uncontrol- 
lable. Mrs. Carlton said it was shocking, the way she 
spoke to her, and then rushed out of the room just like 
a mad child.” 

“Well,” remarked another, “I think she should be 
labored with. Some one should tell her how dreadfully 
wicked it is for her to do so.” 


STEP BY STEP. 


13 


“ But,” said another sister, ** I think you have not 
heard about her lately. They tell me that, after that 
first outbreak of grief, she became very calm, and that it 
is really wonderful the way she bears up now.” 

“ Well, I am sure I hope it’s all right,” said the third 
speaker. “I should hate to think one of our deacons 
had a rebellious daughter.” 

But with all their remarks, no one ventured any ad- 
vice to Agnes. She was in blissful ignorance of their 
criticism. 

The days wore slowly away. One seemed very much 
like another. The doctor came and went, although he 
felt his own inability to do anything. The patient grew 
weaker and weaker, with occasionally a day when she 
seemed a little brighter. 

On one of these occasions Agnes was in her mother’s 
room. She had sat in silence for some time, thinking her 
mother was asleep. On hearing her name called, how- 
ever, she rose and went to the bedside. 

Mrs. Kice was leaning back among the pillows, in the 
position that was easiest for her. She took her little 
daughter’s hand in her own, and, kissing it tenderly, said : 

“ Does my little girl think she could sing for mamma?” 

For a moment Agnes hesitated. It was a hard thing 
her mother had asked of her. Although possessing a 
remarkably fine voice for one so young, she felt it to be 
almost an impossibility to use it then. But, feeling that 


14 


STEP BY STEP. 


it might be the last time her mother would ever ask the 
favor of her, she oflered up a silent prayer for help, and 
asked : 

“ What shall I sing, mamma ? ” 

“ Can you sing ‘ Over Jordan,’ darling? ” 

In a trembling voice Agnes began her mother’s favor- 
ite hymn : 

“ With his dear and loving care, 

Will the Saviour lead me on, 

To the hills and valleys fair, 

Over Jordan ? 

Yes; we’ll rest our weary feet 
By the crystal waters sweet. 

When the peaceful shore we greet. 

Over Jordan.” 

It was hard for her to get through the first stanza ; 
but after that she nearly regained her self-composure, 
and the rest of it was easier. At length, with clear and 
sweet voice, she finished the last stanza : 

‘‘ In the Promised Land to he. 

Will the Saviour lead us on. 

Till fair Canaan’s shore we see. 

Over Jordan ? 

Yes; to dwell withJhee, at last. 

Guide and lead us as thou hast. 

Till the parted wave be passed. 

Over Jordan.” 

Mrs. Rice lay with her eyes closed during the singing, 
and, as Agnes finished, a smile stole over her pale face. 


STEP BY STEP. 


15 


Do you know, Aggie,” she said, opening her eyes, 
“ that is just what the Saviour has promised to do ? 
‘ Guide and lead us,’ even unto the end. ‘ Yea, though I 
walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will 
fear no evil ; for thou art with me.’ You know who said 
that, my child.” 

“Yes, mamma.” 

“He never has left me, and I know he will not at the 
last. God is good. Will you read me the ninety-first 
Psalm ? ” 

Silently Agnes rose and brought her mother’s Bible. 
Opening it at the place designated, she began : “ He that 
dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide 
under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the 
Lord, he is my refuge and my fortress : my God ; in him 
will I trust.” 

This was evidently a favorite Psalm with Mrs. Rice, 
and one that was well marked in her Bible ; especially 
the fifteenth verse, which had every word underscored in 
pencil : 

“ He shall call upon me, and I will answer him : I will 
he with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor 
him.’^ 

There was silence in the room for some time after 
Agnes had finished reading. Then she asked her mother 
if she should not bathe her head. As Mrs. Rice assented, 
she brought the bottle of Florida water, and, stroking 


16 


STEP BY STEP, 


back the dark, wavy hair, she began to bathe her fore- 
head. 

“Sing to me again, Agnes,” said the sick woman. 
“ Sing anything you like this time.” 

The hymn that suggested itself to her mind just then 
was one that had been sung at Sunday-school the Sunday 
previous. So she sang that. 

“Closer, Lord, to thee I cling, 

Closer still to thee ; 

Safe beneath thy sheltering wing, 

I would ever be. 

Kude the blast of doubt and sin. 

Fierce assaults without, within. 

Help me. Lord, the battle win, — 

Closer, Lord, to thee. 

“Closer yet, O Lord, my Kock, 

Kefuge of my soul ; 

Dread I not the tempest shock, 

Tho’ the billows roll. 

"Wildest storm cannot alarm. 

For to me can come no harm. 

Leaning on thy loving arm, — 

Closer, Lord, to thee. 

“ Closer still, my Help, my Stay, 

Closer, closer still; 

Meekly, there I learn to say : 

‘Father, not my will.’ 

Learn that in affliction’s hour, 

When the clouds of sorrow lower. 

Love directs thy hand of power, — 

Closer, Lord, to thee. 


STEP BY STEP. 


17 


“ Closer, Lord, to thee I come, 

Light of life divine; 

Thro’ the ever blessed Son, 

Joy and peace are mine. 

Let me in thy love abide. 

Keep me ever near thy side. 

In the ‘ Eock of Ages ’ hide, — 

Closer, Lord, to thee.” 

Mrs. Kice lay very quiet, and Agnes could not tell 
whether she were asleep or not. She sat by the bedside 
for some time, watching her mother. How pale and thin 
she looked ! The child’s eyes filled with tears as she 
thought of the contrast between her mother of a year 
ago, and her mother at the present time. Her father 
came in presently, and Agnes rose and left the room. 

About an hour later there was a hurrying through the 
house. The child started up anxiously. Should she go 
to her mother’s room or not ? She hesitated, then went 
up stairs, and with a very pale little face, opened the 
chamber door. Her mother had had one of her severe 
coughing spells, and was now resting in her husband’s 
arms, as he sat on the side of the bed. The nurse was 
fanning her, while Mr. Rice bathed her temples. Poor 
Agnes had never seen her look so badly before. She 
stood a moment, and then rushed from the room ; but for 
hours after she could see her mother’s pale face, as she 
lay back then, gasping for breath. 

Hardly knowing what to do with herself, Agnes went 

B 


18 


STEP BY STEP. 


to her room, and, taking up her little Bible, sat down by 
the window. Oh, how she needed comfort ! She opened 
the book at the fourteenth chapter of the Gospel of John. 
It had always been a favorite chapter with her; but 
never before had she realized its full meaning. The first 
verse her eye lighted on was : “ I will not leave you com- 
fortless ; I will come to you.” She glanced at the mar- 
ginal reading — a thing that she seldom did — and found 
that it gave the word “ orphans.” So it might read : “ I 
will not leave you orphans.’^ How exceedingly precious 
this was to her just now! She realized a little, she 
thought, how the disciples felt when the Saviour was 
about to leave them. How very lonely and sad they 
must have been, and how beautiful this promise given to 
them by Jesus himself I And did he not make it to his 
children now ? She believed he did. Then how sweet 
the verse : “ Peace I leave with you ; my peace I give 
unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it 
be afraid.” 

She closed the book. She had enough. The comfort 
she so craved had come. 

The day wore slowly away. She heard them coming 
and going with things for her mother. Once, when her 
father went down stairs for a few moments, she timidly 
approached him, and slipping her hand into his, asked 
how her mother was. Mr. Kice looked worn and sad. 
He merely said ; 


STEP BY STEP. 


19 


“Your mother does not know any one just now,” and 
quietly returned to the room above. 

Agnes wondered if she could ever go to sleep that 
night ; but sleep came at last. When she woke the next 
morning, she lay very still, and listened to hear any 
sound from her mother’s room ; but all being quiet, she 
rose and dressed. On going to the dining room, she 
found that her father was not there ; and as the servant 
entered just then, she inquired of her where her father 
was. A shake of the head and an unintelligible an- 
swer were all the reply she received ; so, leaving the 
room, she entered the library. Her father was here, 
seated in an arm chair, with his head buried in his hands. 

Timidly she approached him, and, laying her hand on 
his shoulder, said : 

“ Is mamma worse, papa? ” 

A groan escaped his lips, and taking his child in his 
arms he said, while the tears streamed down his face ; 

“Your mother is in glory.” 

“ Oh, papa ! ” cried the little girl. “ And didn’t she 
know you before — before she died ? ” 

“ Yes, my child. Just before she breathed her last, she 
opened her eyes and said : ‘ It is all right ; I am ready.’ ” 

Nothing more was said by father or daughter. And 
when the servant finally came to summon them to the 
long-neglected breakfast, she found them clasped in each 
other’s arms, sobbing together. 


CHAPTER II. 


NEW PLANS. 

rpHE days and months followed each other in quick 
succession ; all that was mortal of Mrs. Rice had 
been laid away to await the resurrection, when the trump 
of God should sound and the dead in Christ arise. The 
snows of winter had fallen on the new-made grave ; the 
spring had come, melting ice and snow, and bringing the 
early flowers. These in turn had passed away, and the 
month of roses had arrived. Time, the great healer, was 
in a measure dispelling the gloom that had gathered over 
the household, and although Agnes held the memory of 
her mother as a most sweet and sacred thing still, yet she 
was nevertheless getting used to what she could not help. 

One day, Mr. Rice called his little daughter into the 
room where he was sitting. Her father had just had a 
gentleman call to see him on business, which, indeed, was 
not an unfrequent occurrence, and the child obeyed the 
summons with no thought of there being any special cause 
for the rather protracted stay of the stranger who had 
just taken his departure. 

Her father did not appear to notice her entrance until 

she said : 

20 


STEP BY STEP. 


21 


“ Did you call me, papa ? ” 

Then’ he rose and placed a chair for her near his own, 
saying, as he did so ; 

“ Yes, Agnes ; I wish to see you about some plans I 
have been turning over in my mind. Do you know that 
gentleman who has just been here?” 

“ No, sir.” 

“ Well, it is a Mr. Erskine, from London. He called 
to see me on a matter of business, and I find I shall be 
obliged to go to England for a few weeks.” 

“ Oh, papa ! how soon ? ” 

“ I must start next week.” 

“ And shall I stay here with Aunt Ellen ? ” 

This was a sister of Mr. Rice’s who had kept house for 
him since his wife’s death. 

“No. That is one thing I wished to speak to you 
about. I cannot take you with me, as I shall have no 
time for anything but business, neither do I think it best 
to leave you at home. You have heard me speak of my 
cousin, Lucy Chapman.” 

“ Yes, papa.” 

“ You have never seen her though, I think. Well, she 
is going into the country with her two children — Louise, 
who is about your own age, I believe, and Herbert, about 
two years older. She has kindly consented to take you 
also. I wrote to her some days ago about it, as I expected 
then to be called away, but thought better not to say 


22 


STEP BY STEP. 


anything to you about it until I heard from her, which I 
did this morning. I think it a very good plan, for you 
certainly need young companions, my child.” 

When will she go, papa ? ” came in a faint voice. 

“She passes through this city next Tuesday on her 
way to the Springs. I told her I would see to it that 
you were on hand when the train arrived.” 

Mr. Eice paused, but as Agnes made no reply, he 
continued : 

“How do you think you shall like going to the 
Springs?” 

“ I should like it very much if you were going ; but ” 
— and there was a slight tremor in her voice — “ I do not 
know Cousin Lucy at all, nor Cousin Louise, nor Her- 
bert.” 

“You will soon get acquainted, however. They are 
pleasant people, but a trifle gay.” 

“ How long will you be gone, papa ? ” 

“ I do not expect to be away from home longer than 
six weeks. That will soon pass, you know.” 

But by the looks of the little girl one could easily have 
imagined that to her six weeks was no very short time 
to be separated from her father. She bore it well, hovv- 
ever, and when her father suggested that there might be 
some shopping to be done in the few days that remained 
before her departure, she answered him with one of her 
sweetest smiles. She did not think she needed anything; 


STEP BY STEP. 


23 


but Mr. Rice’s opinion on the subject was evidently 
different from hers. So after dinner she set out, in com- 
pany with her Aunt Ellen, to purchase the things her 
father desired her to have. 

For awhile all else was forgotten. What child is there 
who would not be charmed with the brilliant display of 
the large dry goods stores, especially when they are on a 
shopping expedition for things for themselves? 

Store after store was visited, one article after another 
tied up and directed to be sent to Mr. Rice’s residence. 
Then the pleasure of undoing those same parcels a little 
later ! One shade was contrasted with another, and 
Agnes, child like, almost forgot the occasion of the pur- 
chases, and for a time thought principally of the articles 
themselves. 

She had not been put into black at her mother’s death. 
Mr. Rice objected. It might be well enough for older 
people, he said, but no child of his should be dressed in 
such a gloomy fashion So the articles bought that day 
were becoming in color as well as in make. 

Then followed a few more busy days. Sewing, packing, 
and farewells occupied the time well, and when Tuesday 
came, it found Agnes in readiness for her journey. It 
would take several hours, as she left home about the 
middle of the forenoon, and they were not due at the 
Springs until four in the afternoon. The last five miles 
were to be made by stage, and as Agnes had never trav- 


24 


STEP BY STEP. 


eled in that way before, it was a novel and pleasant 
feature of the journey to her. 

Mr. Rice went with her to the station, and everything 
that could possibly increase her comfort in traveling 
was done. But when the train rushed into the station, 
he had only time to give her a hurried introduction to 
his cousin and her children, imprint a kiss on her lips 
and cheek, and with a “ Good-bye ” and “ God bless my 
darling,” step upon the platform just as the conductor 
waved his hand as a signal to the engineer, and the train 
started slowly on its way. 

For a long time Agnes sat gazing out of the car win- 
dow, just as her father had left her. Her eyes filled with 
tears, but she would let them go no further. She had 
but little idea how Mrs. Chapman or either of her chil- 
dren looked. Indeed, she was not thinking of them at 
all, but of her father, with whom she had just parted, and 
whom she would not see again for six long weeks, and of 
her dear mother, whose grave she had visited the evening 
before. She seemed to see it now, the sun lighting up the 
white marble. She had read its inscription over and over, 
until she knew it as well as she did her own name. 

ALICE L. RICE, 

WIFE OF FRANK J. RICE, 

DIED DECEMBER 2 , 18 —, 

AGED 37 YEARS. 

“Asleep in Jesus, blessed sleep. 

From which none ever wake to weep.” 


STEP BY STEP. 


25 


Her eyes filled again. She felt she was leaving all 
that was dear to her so far behind. But no ! She sud- 
denly remembered : “ Lo I am with you alway.” Who 
spoke those words ? Her very dearest and best Friend 
was going with her, after all. 

She was suddenly started from her reverie by Mrs. 
Chapman laying her hand on her shoulder and speaking 
her name. She turned round, and for the first time 
looked that lady squarely in the face. It was a pleasant 
face, but even to the child’s inexperienced gaze it seemed 
to lack something, firmness or character, or something 
she could not really define. The lady seemed a little 
embarrassed, but finally said : 

“ I hope you will spend a very happy vacation with 
your cousins, my dear.” 

“ Thank you, ma’am,” was the reply. 

‘‘ I trust,” resumed Mrs. Chapman, “ that you will not 
make yourself unhappy about being separated from your 
father for a short time. You are in good hands, you 
must remember.” • 

“ Yes, ma’am.” 

The lady, stopped, as though at a loss to proceed, but 
finally went on : 

“ Your cousins here, Herbert and Louise, are delighted 
with the prospect of spending six weeks at the Springs. 
It is a charming place. I believe you never have been 
there.” 


26 


STEP BY STEP. 


No, ma’am ; never.” 

“ You will like the place, though, I am sure. And you 
must get acquainted with your cousins as fast as possible. 
I believe you are about Louise’s age. Let me see. How 
old did your father tell me you were ? ” 

“ Twelve, ma’am. Twelve, last March.” 

“ Oh ! you are quite near Louise’s age. She was twelve 
in January. I feel sure you will soon be very good 
friends.” 

Not seeming to be able to think of anything further to 
say, Mrs. Chapman settled back in her chair and re- 
sumed the book she had been reading. Then, for the 
first time, Agnes took a good look at the two younger 
members of the party. They were both very good look- 
ing, and bore some resemblance to their mother. The 
boy, however, was the finer looking of the two — his face 
seeming to show more strength of character than that of 
his sister, or even of his mother. His hair was dark, and 
a trifle curly ; while his eyes were certainly very hand- 
some, being large, gray, and thoughtful, at the same time 
expressing good nature and fun. Not liking to look at 
her cousins too long, lest she should seem to be rude, she 
turned her attention again to the window. For a time 
she was interested in the scenery ; then her thoughts re- 
turned again to her father, who was to sail that afternoon. 
She had never been separated from either of her parents 
for any length of time until her mother’s death ; and 


STEP BY STEP. 


27 


since then had been her father’s almost constant com- 
panion. Now she was with strangers — just as much 
strangers to her, in one sense, as though they were not 
second cousins. However, this would not do. She 
must try and be cheerful. So she fell to wondering 
what kind of a place the Springs might be. The 
Chapmans had been there before. She would venture 
to ask them. Turning to Louise, she asked her about 
the place. 

“ Oh ! it is a lovely place,” was the enthusiastic reply. 
“ Perfectly splendid. Then there are always such nice 
people there ; that is the best part of it. The Van Al- 
stens go every year, and the Lawrences. They are im- 
mensely wealthy, you know. What ! don’t know the 
Lawrences or the Van Alstens ? Well, that is strange. 
You must have heard of them — they are so celebrated. 
Then they have magnificent hops every Saturday evening. 
I suppose you dance.” 

Being answered in the negative, she raised her eye- 
brows in surprise. 

“ Possible I Well, I advise you to learn right off. It 
is so fascinating.” 

Not knowing just what reply to make, Agnes remained 
silent. Evidently her cousin was not a Christian. She 
was sorry for that ; but she decided then and there that 
she must let her light shine all the brighter, if it was to 
shine in the dark. Seeing the porter coming through the 


28 


STEP BY STEP. 


car with something in his hand which he handed to the 
passengers, she asked her cousin what it was. 

“ Why, that’s the porter,” was the reply ; “ and he is 
showing the bill of fare for dinner. I am glad, too ; I’m 
so hungry. It always does make me hungry to travel. 
The people give him their orders now, you know, and 
then he brings the things whenever they want them. 
Haven’t you ever been in a parlor car before. Cousin 
Agnes ? ” 

“ No, I never rode very far in the cars. Only a little 
way at a time.” 

“ Well, here is the porter, to see what we want. I’m 
hungry as I can be,” — this last remark addressed to her 
mother, — “ and I want something good.” 

Mrs. Chapman took the bill of fare in her hand, looked 
it over, ordered something for herself and children, and 
then asked Agnes what she would like. 

“ It makes no difference. I’ll take the same as you 
all have,” was the answer. 

So lunch was ordered for the four, to be served in 
half an hour. 

The way it was served was all new to Agnes, from 
the little table that was fitted to the side of the car to the 
electric bell Mrs. Chapman rang when she wished the 
waiter. Everything seemed nice to her; but she ob- 
served — as indeed she had occasion to do many times 
during the summer — that Louise was hard to suit. The 


STEP BY STEP. 


29 


soup was too hot, the vegetables too cold, and the dessert 
not prepared the way she liked it at all. Her mother 
took very little notice of her fault-finding ; and Herbert 
remarked that he had hoped she would forget to grumble 
for once. 

Lunch was finished, however, and they had just time 
to collect their wraps and satchels, when they were 
obliged to leave the car. They waited a short time in 
the station, and then took another train for the remaining 
twenty-five miles by rail. During all the time that they 
were in the car, Louise fussed and scolded because they 
were unable to secure seats in a parlor car. 

They found the stage waiting when they arrived at the 
station. Agnes was in an ecstasy of delight. 

“ Oh ! Cousin Louise,” she exclaimed, “ how nice ! I 
never rode in a stage like that.” 

Never rode in a stage like that!” was the rather 
disdainful rejoinder. “ I wonder where you were 
brought up ? ” 

“Where she learned manners, anyway, I presume,” 
observed Herbert. 

Agnes grew very quiet after this, thinking she would 
not venture to say much, lest she should start an unpleas- 
ant discussion. 

“ I’m bound I will ride on top of that stage,” said 
Louise. And although her mother, who was very nerv- 
ous, remonstrated with her, she finally carried her point. 


30 


STEP BY STEP. 


as Herbert informed bis cousin she generally did, and was 
mounted in triumph on the seat by the driver ; while 
Mrs. Chapman fidgeted during the whole ride, and con- 
tinually charged her to be careful. Agnes rode inside 
with that lady, although she would much rather have 
been up with her cousins ; especially as Mrs. Chapman 
occupied a good part of the ride in retailing accounts of 
“ Louise’s persistency,” as she called it, and the trouble 
it had caused her. However, the ride could not but be a 
pleasant one to Agnes. It was through the woods nearly 
all the way ; and they were the most beautiful woods she 
had ever seen. The sunlight streamed through the trees, 
making the soft, damp moss look like a beautiful carpet 
of green and gold. The air too was sweet, and the little 
birds so charming, that she felt as though she had never 
enjoyed a ride better; and she almost wished it were ten 
miles instead of five. They came to the end, however, 
and she found herself at the steps of a very large and 
handsome hotel. It was white, with a tower and upper 
and lower verandas running nearly the whole distance 
around it. 

A porter helped them to alight, took their hand bag- 
gage, and led the way into the office. Then followed a 
few words with the clerk, who handed the porter some 
keys. He, motioning them to follow, made his way to 
the elevator ; and soon they were in some very airy and 
pleasant rooms. 


STEP BY STEP. 


31 


I thought you would prefer to room with Louise,” 
remarked Mrs. Chapman to Agnes, ‘‘ as you might be 
lonesome if left to yourself in a strange hotel.” 

Agnes thanked her, with a secret wish, however, that 
she might have had a room to herself ; which wish grew 
as time advanced. 

After tea, both girls were busy for a time taking things 
from their trunks. Then Agnes took her Bible and sat 
down to read. Her roommate did not observe her at 
first, being occupied in her own affairs. Presently, how- 
ever, glancing over to where Agnes sat, absorbed in her 
reading, she remarked that it was rather late to go to 
reading. She herself was almost tired to death, and was 
going right to bed. But when Agnes rose, put her Bible 
on the stand, and knelt down by the side of the bed, the 
astonishment of the child seemed to reach its height ; and 
the little girl kneeling there, with her face buried in the 
counterpane, could not help feeling that a pair of very 
inquisitive eyes were gazing at her. 

As she rose from her knees, she saw her roommate 
standing looking at her in a sort of amazed wonder, and 
was greeted with the words : 

*‘ I did not know you were one of the pious sort.” 

Poor Agnes ! Her cheeks crimsoned. She made no 
reply, however, but hastily undressed and got into bed, 
her companion soon following. But long after sleep had 
closed the eyes of those around her, she lay sobbing 'and 


32 


STEP BY STEP. 


crying. Oh ! if only she need not have left her father, 
and gone away with strangers ! She thought of him now, 
on the wide ocean, every moment making the distance 
between them greater ; of the dangers to which he was 
exposed ; and the time that must elapse before she could 
see him again, even if no accident befell him. Timidly, 
lest she should waken her cousin, she slipped out of bed, 
and quietly made her way over to the window ; and the 
moon, which was shining in all her grandeur, lighted the 
little figure clad in white, as she knelt by the window-sill. 
Her sobs grew quieter, and she prayed — oh, so earnestly 
— that her dear papa might be kept from all harm, and 
that she might be patient, come what would. Calmed at 
last by the sweet communion with her best Friend, she 
rose and went back to bed. Tired with her long jour- 
ney, and fatigued by grief, she also soon fell asleep. 


CHAPTER III. 


FIRST DAY AT THE SPRINGS. 

Agnes opened her eyes the next morning, the 
’ " sun was shining brightly, and she saw her cousin 
standing at the window. Jumping out of bed, she ran 
across the room and stood beside her ; pushing the shut- 
ters still further back, she uttered one exclamation, and 
then stood as if spellbound. 

‘‘ What in the world is the matter ? ” said Louise. 

Oh, isn’t it beautiful ! I never saw such dear, lovely 
mountains before. Aren’t they grand ? ” 

“ How funny you are I ” said the other. “ Who ever 
thought of calling mountains ‘ dear ’ before ? ” 

“Oh, but they are so splendid!” said the little girl, 
with a sigh of satisfaction. “ Don’t you think so. Cousin 
Louise?” 

“Why, yes, they are pretty enough, I suppose. I 
never spent much time in looking at them.” 

“ Never looked at them much, and you have been here 
before ? ” 

“ Yes, twice.” 

“And not looked at the mountains much? Oh, it 

seems to me I should never tire of looking at them I ” 
c 33 


34 


STEP BY STEP. 


“ You would, though, and you had better hurry and 
dress or you will be late to breakfast. I am going down 
to the veranda now.” 

Agnes was not sorry to be left to herself. Turning 
regretfully from the window, she began to dress. When 
this was accomplished, she took her little Bible and sat 
down by the window. She would have liked to go down 
on the veranda herself, but she felt the moments she had 
alone were precious. She opened her Bible at the nine- 
tieth psalm and began to read : 

“ Lord, thou has been our dwelling place in all genera- 
tions. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever 
thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from 
everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” 

She paused ; never before had she so fully realized how 
much was implied by this psalm. “ Before the mountains 
were brought forth ; ” how long ago that seemed ! She 
turned her gaze out of the window; those grand, majestic 
mountains that looked as though they had always been 
there were formed by One who inhabited eternity. He 
was before they were. He would be after they had passed 
away. For the mountains should depart and the hills be 
removed, but his kindness should be forever. She fell 
to wondering what else the Bible said about mountains. 
She recalled a verse somewhere in the Psalms that said : 
“Thy righteousness is like the great mountains;” and 
looking at them, she felt what a great thing Gods right- 


STEP BY STEP. 


35 


eousness was. She remembered how Christ went up into 
a mountain when he taught his disciples the beatitudes, 
and again how he took Peter, James, and John up into 
a high mountain and was transfigured before them. She 
did not recall anything else just then that the Bible said 
about mountains, although she knew they must be spoken 
of many more times. She closed the book and knelt 
down. She thanked God for allowing her to see the 
grandeur of his creation, and prayed that she might let 
her light shine for him at all times. 

Just as she reached the veranda, the breakfast bell 
sounded. Louise met her at the door. She had already 
found friends, with whom she was chatting gayly. She 
introduced them to her cousin, at the same time asking 
her what she had been about so long. 

“You must have prinked considerable. Cousin Agnes,” 
she said. “We have been down to the spring and had a 
delicious drink of the water.” 

Mrs. Chapman coming down the stairs just then, they 
all went into breakfast. 

After that meal was finished, the girls went down to 
the spring again, Agnes accompanying them this time. 
It was just a pleasant distance, being about a quarter of 
a mile, with plank walk all the way from the hotel steps 
to the spring house. How delicious the water was ! It 
was not a mineral spring; indeed, one of its peculiarities 
was the absence of any special mineral. It was pure and 


36 


STEP BY STEP. 


sparkling as crystal, and as Agnes drank a glass just 
dipped from the bubbling basin, she thought she had 
never tasted any water half as nice before. Other people 
seemed to appreciate it too, for they came one after 
another, so that the boy employed to dip the water had 
plenty to do. 

“ Not much like city water,’’ observed one gentleman, 
draining his fourth glass. 

“ No, not much,” I’eplied his friend ; “ this is the pure 
stuff. It does not look like the home water, as though 
saffron had been steeped in it.” 

Every one seemed in good spirits ; even those who had 
come for their health seemed to imbibe cheerfulness as 
well as water. 

The girls slowly retrajed their steps to the hotel — 
slowly, because of the up grade, down which they had 
hurried on their way to the spring. The time seemed to 
pass far more pleasantly than Agnes had at first feared 
it would ; although the hotel might be said to stand there 
alone, with the exception of a few country houses. No 
one seemed to feel lonely, and there were enough to 
make time pass pleasantly. 

One day, Agnes and her two cousins took a walk 
through the woods to the shore of a beautiful lake. The 
child was in an ecstasy of delight. After reaching the 
spring house. They took a path leading directly into the 
woods. The sweet smell of leaves and ferns ; the twitter 


STEP BY STEP. 


37 


of birds in the branches overhead ; and the little path 
which wound round and round and up and down, and 
across which a tiny spring of water occasionally made its 
way, — were something altogether new to her. There was 
but one drawback to the pleasure of the walk — that was 
the mosquitoes ; the woods were full of them, but Agnes 
declared she would keep on if they were twice as trouble- 
some, and Herbert remarked that there was “ no rose 
without a thorn,” and although the thorn in this instance 
was quite painful, he thought he could stand it for the sake 
of the rose. Even Louise, who was generally apt to look 
at the uncomfortable side of things, while she found some 
fault as she slapped at the mosquitoes and said she did 
not see what they were made for, anyway, concluded that, 
on the whole, it paid. When they reached the shore of 
the lake, there tvas another exclamation on the part of 
Agnes, who said she never saw anything so pretty before, 
excepting the mountain. Finding there were boats to 
let, Herbert proposed that they take a row, to which 
proposition the girls readily assented ; and to make the 
pleasure still more complete, they were enabled to carry 
back to the hotel some very pretty water lilies. 

So one day after another passed away until Saturday 
night arrived. As the two girls left the tea table that 
evening, Louise asked her cousin what she was going to 
wear. 

“ Wear,” repeated Agnes. “ Wear when ? ” 


38 


STEP BY STEP. 


“ Why, this evening, to be sure. Have you forgotten 
the Saturday night hop ? ” 

“ Oh, to be sure, I had forgotten ; but you know I do 
not dance.’’ 

“ I know that, but it does not hinder your looking on. 
A great many of the people who go down do not dance, 
but only go to see. Wouldn’t you like to see them 
dance ? ” 

“ I don’t know,” replied the little girl, thoughtfully. 
“ I had not thought anything about it. I never saw any 
dancing.” 

“Never saw dancing? Well, then, I’m sure I think 
you had better go down and see some. It can’t hurt 
you to look on, even if you are too religious to dance 
yourself.” 

The child hesitated. Ought she to go ? Could there 
be any harm in just looking on as her cousin had 
suggested? She would really like to see what it was 
like. 

“Come,” rejoined the other, “what will you wear? I 
shall wear my new pink silk. Mamma bought it for me 
just before we left home. I always was crazy for a pink 
silk. I don’t get a chance to dance much, however ; I 
am so young that hardly any one asks me. I think it’s 
horrid to be young and have every one look down on 
you. Well, what did you decide to wear finally? ” 

“ I think I will wear white,” she said, slowly, as though 


STEP BY STEP. 


39 


measuring every word, “ my white embroidered dress 
and blue sash and ribbons.” 

Louise was a long time in dressing. She tried one 
effect after another as she stood before the mirror. 

“Are not my gloves immaculate?” she asked, after she 
had worked hard for five or ten minutes getting them on. 
“ I do so admire nice kids.” 

But for ail her fussing and prinking, Agnes looked the 
more simple and childish, and consequently the prettier, 
as they entered the hall together. 

They took seats on one side of the room, and while 
they waited for them to commence, Agnes occupied her- 
self by looking at the people as they came in. She had 
never seen such display of dress before. Silks, satins, 
brocades, laces, and diamonds passed before her, and to 
the child, who although reared in luxury had spent her 
twelve short years in simplicity, it seemed almost like 
fairy land. 

“ There ! they are going to begin now,” presently an- 
nounced Louise. “I do hope some one will ask me to 
dance this evening. I want to show my new dress. 
There’s Miss Van Alsten, Cousin Agnes — that young 
lady with pink roses. That gentleman is inviting her to 
dance. I wonder who he is? I never saw him before 
that I know of.” 

Just then the music began; the orchestra struck up a 
lively waltz and the dancers took the floor. 


40 


STEP BY STEP. 


Agnes sat and held her breath at first, hardly knowing 
what to think, as one couple after another whirled past 
her. She felt shocked, however, at what she saw ; and 
touching her cousin on the arm, said : 

“ Cousin Louise, do they — I mean, does the gentleman 
always hug the lady like that ? ” 

She spoke under her breath, but her cousin broke into 
a laugh as loud as she would dare indulge in, in such a 
place. 

“Of course they do, goosey,” she replied. “Didn’t 
you know that before ? ” 

“No, never,” said the little girl. “Are they very well 
acquainted with each other ? ” 

“Some are and some are not. Some of them, probably, 
never met before.” 

A look of horror came across the child’s face. 

“But how do they know, then, that they are nice, good 
people ? ” 

“ I don’t suppose they do. Probably a good many of 
them are not.” 

“ And yet they let them do so ! ” 

The look of horror had deepened now. 

“Why, yes,” replied the other, with a little, annoyed 
laugh. “What’s the harm? It’s just dancing, you 
know.” 

Agnes seemed to have no reply ready for such a ques- 
tion. 


STEP BY STEP. 


41 


“ Don’t, for pity sake, look so,” said the other. “ What 
will folks think of you ? They are going to have some 
square dances soon ; perhaps you’ll like them better.” 

“ Square dances ! What are they ? ” 

“They have no hugging, as you call it, in those.” 

“ Then I think they should have all square dances.” 

In a few moments more the music ceased, and the 
dancers threw themselves down to rest. There was a 
short interval, and then the sets were formed for the 
quadrilles. Herbert invited Agnes to dance, but she 
quietly replied that she did not dance at all, while Louise 
turned to her brother and said, in a loud whisper: 

“ She’s one of the pious kind.” 

Agnes’ cheeks grew crimson, but she said nothing. 
Herbert, evidently ashamed of his sister’s rudeness, said : 

“If you’ll allow me, then, I will sit here and watch 
the next myself. I do not care much for dancing.” 

Louise was in an unhappy frame of mind. 

“ Herbert,” she said at last, in a petulant tone, “ can’t 
you get me an introduction to some of those young gen- 
tlemen ? I want to dance, and perhaps they would ask 
me if you would only introduce me.” 

“ If they care to dance with you, then let them ask for 
an introduction themselves. I’m not going to beg them 
to dance with any sister of mine.” 

Louise pouted. “ That is just the way he does,” she 
remarked to Agnes. “He never gives me half a chance 


42 


STEP BY STEP. 


to get acquainted. Oh ! they are going to have a Port- 
land Fancy. It is the nicest square dance there is, I think. 
I wish some one would ask me to dance in that.” 

Just at this juncture, Herbert, who had been across the 
room, returned with a young lad a trifle older than him- 
self. Going up to his cousin, he said : 

“ Cousin Agnes, Mr. French has asked for an intro- 
duction to you. Mr. French, this is my cousin. Miss 
Agnes Kice.” 

The lad bowed in a constrained dancing-school fashion, 
expressed great pleasure at making Miss Agnes’ acquaint- 
ance, and asked if she would favor him in the next 
dance. Agnes thanked him ; but informed him that she 
did not dance. He was not to be so easily disposed of, 
however. He was not much of a dancer himself, he said ; 
but then he knew she would pardon it. Would she not 
just try this Portland Fancy with him ? 

Agnes was not used to having her word doubted. 
Always truthful herself, she supposed every one else to 
be the same. Looking up into his face with her clear, 
honest eyes, she replied, with a quiet dignity : 

“ I think you misunderstood me. I said I did not 
dance at all.” 

At this he turned abruptly to Herbert, begging he 
would introduce him to his sister. The introduction was 
given, and then Louise had her heart’s desire — a chance 
to form one of the set for the Portland Fancy. 


STEP BY STEP. 


43 


Herbert resumed his seat by his cousin’s side. “ You 
do not think much of that fellow,” he said. 

“ I did not like his appearance very well.” 

“ He’s a bore ! That’s just what he is. I hope Louise 
will get enough of him. I did not want to introduce him 
to you ; but he asked me to, and although I assured him 
you never danced, he said let him alone for that. Some 
girls needed a little more urging than others, that was all.” 

“ If he thinks I am one of that kind,” said Agnes, “ I 
do not care to know any more of him.” 

“ I knew he was mistaken this time ; but I thought I 
would let him find out for himself. You took him down 
a peg ; and I for one am heartily glad of it.” 

The dance ended, and Louise came back flushed with 
excitement, saying she had had a perfectly splendid 
time, and that Mr. French was quite entertaining. 

Mrs. Chapman came along just then, and announced 
that it was high time the girls retired. Louise fretted, 
teased, and pouted; but to no avail. For once Mrs. 
Chapman stood firm. So, with reluctant steps on the 
part of Louise and eager ones on the part of Agnes, who 
was glad of any available excuse to make her escape, 
they left the hall. 

Louise was moody and disagreeable while she un- 
dressed, remarking that her mother always did just that 
way. Whenever she was really enjoying herself, she had 
to be sent to bed like a child of six years. 


44 


STEP BY STEP. 


Long after her roommate was asleep, Agnes’ thoughts 
were busy. She wondered if she had done wrong in 
going to the dance hall at all. She had not really meant 
any harm; but had it been a wise thing? She did not 
feel as happy as before. She felt as though she had been 
placed — no, rather she had placed herself — on a level with 
every one else in the room. The young man who had 
been so solicitous for her to dance was not supposed to 
know that she was a Christian. He had seen her in the 
ball room ; was not that enough to lead him to suppose 
that she belonged to the world ? Had she gone “to the 
glory of God ”? Would she have expected to meet her 
Saviour there? She almost shuddered as she thought of 
what she had done. Had she showed her colors as she 
entered that gay room ? She thought not. She was sorry 
she had gone. She had not meant to do wrong ; but she 
had decided the question of going without asking her 
Heavenly Father about it. With a prayer for forgive- 
ness, and help to do better and act more like a Christian 
in the future, she fell asleep. 

She slept later than common the next morning ; but 
nearly every one in the house did that. It was Sunday, 
and breakfast itself was later than usual. As they sat 
around the table, Agnes asked how far it was to the 
church. Mrs. Chapman laughed, and said she was sure 
she did not know. There was no church that she knew 
of within several miles. 


STEP BY STEP. 


45 


“ Then what do the people do, Cousin Lucy ? ” 

“ Stay around the hotel, or go to drive mostly.” 

‘‘ And not go to church at all? ” 

“ No. How can they ? ” 

The little girl’s face grew very thoughtful. “I should 
think,” she said, slowly, “ that where there are so many 
people, they would build a church.” 

“ That would hardly pay, you know. The hotel is only 
open about four months during the year. And then, to 
tell the truth, I do not suppose most of them care if they 
do have a vacation of church going, as well as of other 
things. I am sure I do not.” 

“ Then they never go to church all summer,” mused 
Agnes, half aloud. 

“ Oh ! they frequently have preaching at the hotel — 
whenever there is a clergyman staying here who happens 
to be willing to officiate. I believe there is no one of the 
kind here to-day, however.” 

Agnes finished her breakfast in silence. Ever since 
she had been old enough to go to church, she had been 
constant in her attendance there. She wondered how it 
would seem not to go to service all day. 

When the meal was finished, most of the boarders 
strolled out on to the veranda, in a listless sort of way. 
What a dreary forenoon it was! Every one seemed to 
act as though they wished it were some other day. Groups 
were scattered here and there, talking on various topics. 


46 


STEP BY STEP, 


But to the child brought up with strict views in regard 
to the Lord’s Day, it seemed no less than sacrilege. 

After dinner, Louise announced to Agnes that she had 
heard there was to be a concert — a sacred concert, she 
believed — in the hall, that afternoon. 

“ A what ? ” said her cousin. 

“ A sacred concert, by the orchestra.” 

“The band play on Sunday? ” 

“ Why, yes ; sacred music, you know.” 

“What ! church music and Gospel Hymns ? ” 

“ I suppose so.” 

Agnes pondered this some time, and at length came to 
the conclusion that she did not know that it was more 
wicked to play church music on brass instruments than on 
an organ. Probably she would hear some of those good 
old hymns she had been longing for all day. It would 
seem just a very little like going to church, she fancied. 

Accordingly, at the appointed hour she went into the 
hall. In a short time the band began. A look of amaze- 
ment came across her face. What were they playing ? 
She did not know. She only knew it was not any music 
that she had ever heard in church, and certainly did not 
sound much like sacred music of any kind. It was not 
dance music, like she had heard the evening before — that 
was all it had to recommend it. She had come expecting 
to hear “Nearer, my God, to thee,” or, “How Firm a 
Foundation.” She moved uneasily in her chair. Ought 


STEP BY STEP. 


47 


she to stay and hear any more ? Finally she touched 
her cousin’s arm. 

“ I do not think I care to stay any longer,” she said. 

Louise looked up and asked “ Why not ? ” But 
Agnes was gone. 

Where should she go ? She might as well stay in the 
hall as to go out on the veranda ; and even in her own 
room she could hear the music. At last she decided she 
would go off somewhere, and write to her father. So, 
with pencil and paper she made her way to the woods, 
down by the spring house, where some seats had been put 
up for the accommodation of any who might wander that 
way. And there, with the soft wind blowing about her 
face, and the fragrant pine ail around, enjoying the first 
sacred stillness she had known that day, she wrote the 
following brief epistle : 

“Dear Papa ; I am out in the pine woods, writing this letter. 
I came here, because I could not be quiet in the hotel. They 
are having a concert there this afternoon, and it is Sunday, too, 
papa. They call it a sacred concert ; but I don’t know why 
they should. Last evening they had a ball, and I went in to see 
them dance, because I had never seen anything of the kind. 
But I was very sorry I went. I do not think it is any place for 
a Christian. I didn’t really mean to do wrong; but I saw, as 
soon as they began to dance, that I ought not to have gone. It 
is very gay here, and I find it hard always to do just right. 

“ I miss you ever so much, dear papa ; but I try not to be lone- 
some. Mrs. Chapman is kind to me, and it is a lovely place 
here. I can see the mountains from my window, and they are 
just grand. I hope you were not seasick, and that you like Eng- 


48 


STEP BY STEP. 


land. Nearly one week of the six has passed already. I had a 
letter from Aunt Ellen yesterday, and she said everything was 
all right at home, and that Jane wished to be remembered to 
me. I do not think of any more to write just now. Pray for 
me, papa. 

“ Your Loving Daughter, 

“Agnes Kice.” 

After her short letter was finished, Agnes sat for some 
time. She would not go back to the hotel until she was 
pretty sure the music was over. When at length she 
did reach the veranda steps, she found that the people in 
the hall had dispersed, and were wandering or sitting 
round as aimlessly as before. 

Louise, in company with the youngest Miss Van Al- 
sten, met her at the door of the office. 

“Where in the world did you go to so suddenly, and 
what have you been doing ? ” asked Louise. 

“ I have been in the woods, down by the spring house, 
writing to papa.’^ 

“Well, you missed a good concert, that’s all I have to 
say. You need not have gone* either; for the last of it 
was solemn enough even for religious people.” Here the 
speaker and Miss Van Alsten exchanged knowing 
glances. “ The last piece was very grave. I guess it 
was Old Hundred, or something of that sort.” 

To these remarks Agnes made no reply, but passed on 
into the hotel, while Louise and Miss Van Alsten started 
for a walk. 


CHAPTER IV. 


ENDURING. 



ONES was sitting in her room one afternoon, busy 


with some little mats that she was crocheting as a 
surprise for her Aunt Ellen, when the door opened and 
Mrs. Chapman looked in. 

“So you are here, are you?” she observed. “The 
girls want you down stairs.” 

“ The girls ? ” 

“Yes. Louise, and Florence Van Alsten, and one or 
two others. I believe they want to see you about some 
games.” 

Agues laid aside her work and went down. She found 
the girls grouped round a table, with Miss Van Alsten 
talking to them. 

“ Oh, here you are,” cried Louise, as Agnes entered ; 
“ we want you to make up the set. Florence is going to 
teach us to play euchre.” 

Agnes started back as though she had suddenly re- 
ceived an electric shock, but the others did not appear 
to notice it. 

“ There is a chair for you,” said Louise, motioning to 
her to be seated. “ Now we shall be all right.” 


D 


49 


50 


STEP BY STEP. 


“ I thank you, but I don’t care — I don’t think — I mean 
I don’t know how to play,” stammered Agnes, becoming 
more and more confused. 

“ No more do we,” was the answer. “ Didn’t I say 
Miss Florence was going to teach us ? ” 

“ Yes ; but if you will excuse me, I think I will not 
learn.” 

“ Nonsense ! why not ? Don’t be absurd and keep us 
all waiting.” 

“I thank you, but I would a great deal rather not 
learn. I am sorry to disappoint you, but I think you 
can find some one to take my place.” 

Louise looked annoyed, and grasping her cousin by 
the arm drew her toward herself. 

“ I beg of you,” she whispered, not to be so disagree- 
able. Miss Van Alsten will be offended, and it is really 
too bad for you to act so.” 

“Perhaps Agnes will be so kind as to give us her 
reasons for not wishing to play,” said Miss Van Alsten, 
in a cold voice. 

“ I am sure I am very much obliged to you all,” began 
Agnes, while her cheeks grew scarlet, “ but I never 
learned the game, and I feel sure papa would not be 
pleased for me to engage in it ; and even if he did not 
object, I could not do it.” This last statement made with 
a sudden determination not to lay the blame on any one 
else, but to stand true to her convictions. 


STEP BY STEP. 


51 


“And pray may I ask why?” This from Miss Van 
Alsten again. 

There was a brief struggle. The little girl involun- 
tarily shut her hands tightly together and her eyes filled 
with tears, which she would not let fall. Then she said, 
in a low voice that was almost a whisper ; 

“ Miss Van Alsten, I am a Christian.” 

A scornful laugh greeted this remark, followed by the 
question : 

“ I suppose by that you mean to insinuate that all the 
rest of us are heathen f ” 

“ I did not say so,” was the faint reply, 

“Agnes, you are fairly insulting,” cried Louise, in a 
rage. “ Do be decent, at least, or I won’t own you as 
any cousin of mine.” 

Poor child ! As she stood there in the gaze of all those 
girls, she might almost have wished the floor to open and 
let her sink through out of sight. 

“ May I ask what your being a Christian, as you call 
it, has to do with the question?” said Miss Van Alsten, 
with provoking coolness. 

“ You would not understand me ! — oh, you would not 
understand me!” said Agnes, fairly breaking down 
and sobbing. “I did not mean to be rude. Miss 
Van Alsten, I really did not, but you asked me the 
question.” 

She could bear no more, but turned away and left 


52 


STEP BY STEP. 


them, not, however, in time to avoid hearing the young 
lady remark with a sneer : 

“ There is religion for you with a vengeance. I do not 
care for any of that sort myself.” 

Agnes rushed out of the door and down the plank 
walk, not stopping until she reached her seat in the 
woods, where she threw herself down, and burying her 
face in her hands, sobbed as though her heart would 
break. How could she ever endure the remaining weeks, 
she asked herself, exposed as she was to taunt and ridi- 
cule? It was hard enough to be separated from her 
father without this additional trouble. She counted how 
long it would probably be that she would have to remain 
here, and then counted the days she had already been 
from home : they seemed small in comparison with those 
ahead of her. But suddenly there came to her mind some 
words her mother had once spoken to her : “ It is only 
one step at a time, my dear — one day at a time — one 
moment at a time. God never gives us to-morrow’s grace 
to-day.” 

She dried her eyes. She would try, with the Lord’s 
help, to do as her dead mother had said. She was think- 
ing it over, when suddenly she heard footsteps approach- 
ing and some one whistling a lively tune. She would 
rather not have been seen by any one just then, but there 
was no time to make an escape. The footsteps and the 
whistling came nearer and nearer and suddenly stopped 


STEP BY STEP. 63 

before her. She looked up, and her eyes met those of 
her Cousin Herbert. 

“ Whew ! you here ? ” was the exclamation. “ What’s 
up?” 

Agnes could not help smiling at the greeting. 

“What’s the trouble, anyhow, Cousin Agnes?” 

“ How do you know there is any ? ” 

“Your eyes tell that. People do not generally have 
such red eyes for nothing.” 

“ I am afraid I have offended the girls,” said Agnes, 
her voice nearly ending in a sob. 

“ Nonsense ! More likely they have offended you.” 

“ I really did not mean to offend. Cousin Herbert, but 
Miss Van Alsten asked me a question, and I felt obliged 
to answer her.” 

“ I should not care a continental if I had offended her,” 
with peculiar stress laid on the “ her ” ; “ she is a stuck- 
up piece, anyway. I say these people that feel so much 
better than other folks had better go away and live by 
themselves. No one would miss them.” 

“ I was very sorry to hurt their feelings, though. I 
know Cousin Louise thought me rude.” 

“ Oh, bother ! what do you care for Louise ? If any 
one can go ahead of her in rudeness, just bring her 
forward. If she is the one who has been troubling you. 
I’ll settle it at short notice.” 

“ Oh, no ! ” cried the child ; “ please don’t say anything 


54 


STEP BY STEP. 


to her about it ; it would only make her angry and do 
no good. I had much rather you would not. I am 
sure I forgive them. I did not at first, but I do 
now.” 

“ I would not forgive them, I can tell you. I never 
forgive an injury.” 

“ Oh, Cousin Herbert, do not, please do not say that ! ” 
There was real distress in her voice this time. “ I am 
sure I forgive them. I do not think they realized what 
they said.” 

“ Then I would make them, if I were you. But come, 
let us go back to the hotel. It will not do for you to 
mope here any longer.” 

So after some urging on his part, he induced Agnes to 
go back with him. They sat on the veranda for some 
time, Agnes looking at her dear mountains and Herbert 
whittling a stick. Neither of them said much until 
Louise appeared on the scene. 

“ So here you are, are you ? ” she asked, with a toss of 
her head. “Mamma says we are all to drive over to 
Shaker Village this afternoon, unless possibly Cousin 
Agnes may feel too pious to ride with us sinners.” 

“Hold your tongue, can’t you,” said Herbert. “I 
should think you had been disagreeable enough for one 
day.” 

“As it’s a free country, I suppose I have a right to 
speak,” was the angry retort. 


STEP BY STEP. 


65 


“ I would not be as hateful as you are, Louise, for a 
small farm.” 

“Oh, you wouldn’t, would you? Perhaps some folks 
may think you are already. Possibly you might have 
been now, if you had seen what I saw this morning. If 
there is anything I detest, it is a show of religion.” 

“ You are not troubled that way.” 

“ Oh, don’t ; please don't,” said Agnes, looking really 
distressed. “ I should be glad to go and see the Shakers. 
I never saw any ; but papa has told me about them. 
They believe in Mother Ann Lee, do they not ? ” 

“ I think they do,” said Herbert. Louise said nothing. 

“ I did not know there were any round here. How far 
away are they ? ” 

“ About three miles, I should judge. 

“Cousin Louise,” said Agnes, timidly, after a brief 
pause, “ I am very sorry if I offended you. I did not 
mean to; but you know Miss Van Alston asked me a 
question, and I was obliged to answer it. I really did 
not mean to be rude.” 

“ You succeeded admirably, though.” 

“ You will forgive me, if I was ; will you not, though ? ” 

“ Oh, I am willing to let it drop. That is the best way. 

I do not care to hear any more about it.” 

The bell summoning them to dinner just then, the con- 
versation was brought to a close. Louise assumed a 
haughty air during dinner, while Agnes felt as though 


56 


STEP BY STEP. 


she would much prefer going to her room. The uncom- 
fortable meal ended, however; and Mrs. Chapman being 
in a hurry to start, they were soon seated in the carriage. 
The day was so pleasant that troubles were soon forgotten, 
and all three children entered into the enjoyment of the 
drive as though nothing had happened. 

There were three buildings ; one a plain, small church, 
the others large stone edifices, which were the homes of 
the Shakers. They rapped at the door of one of the 
latter, and a woman appeared. She wore the customary 
dress and cap ; and although Agnes had never seen any 
one dressed in such a strictly plain way, she could but 
notice how scrupulously neat it all was. 

The woman received them kindly, and ofiered to show 
them round the premises. Here too everything was pain- 
fully plain, but strictly clean. She took them to the 
garden where the young girls, all dressed Shaker fashion, 
were busily at work. The vegetables were growing finely, 
and the hop vines made Agnes’ eyes sparkle with delight. 
She took them into the church, which was not at all like 
any church they had ever been in before. No carpet, 
chandeliers, stained glass windows, or even pulpit ; but a 
few seats for those who might, out of curiosity, come to 
see them ; and a bare space of floor in front, where the 
Shakers marched, danced, and sang songs to Ann 
Lee. 

Then their goods were exposed for sale, some of them 



Page 56. 


Step by Step 












STEP BY STEP. 


57 


being really very pretty and tempting. Little baskets, 
needle books, and napkin rings made of the v. hite straw 
work ; packages of their preserved flag and ginger; photo- 
graphs of the place, and. various other articles. The 
party made a few purchases, and then said good-bye. 
They did not go directly back to the hotel ; but took a 
more circuitous way through the woods. 

“ I am glad I am not a Shaker,” said Louise, when 
they left. “ How dreadful it must be to live in such a 
gloomy house, and not see anything of the world ! ” 

“ Then besides that, they believe in Mother Ann Lee, 
as they call her,” said Agnes. 

“ Well, I don’t care what they believe. It is only the 
dreadful gloominess I should object to.” 

“ Oh, but it is so dreadful to believe that a woman is 
Christ. Just think of that ! ” 

Well, of course I do not agree with them ; but then 
what is the use of puzzling one’s brains over the difier- 
ences in religion ? How can we know who is right and 
who wrong ? ” 

Agnes opened her eyes, and simply said : “ The Bible, 
you know.” 

“ Oh, yes, I know. But people interpret it differently. 
I suppose one has as good a right to his opinions as 
another.” 

“ I think,” said Mrs. Chapman, speaking for the first 
time, “ that one who does as nearly right as one can, need 


58 


STEP BY STEP. 


not worry. Do all the good works you can, and you. 
cannot help coming out right.” 

“ But good works cannot save any one, you know,” 
ventured Agnes, in a timid voice. 

“ If good works will not save any one, then I do not 
know what will.” 

“ Do you think the thief on the cross was saved by 
good works. Cousin Lucy ? ” 

“I think, well, I really do not know as I ever 

thought much about it. Perhaps that was an excep- 
tional case.” 

“ Would you mind if I should ask you why it was an 
exceptional case?” 

“ Really I can’t say,” answered Mrs. Chapman, with a 
laugh. “ You are a very precocious child, Agnes — quite 
a philosopher. There ! children ; there is a view for you.” 

They had just come out into a little cleared place, 
across which they could obtain a grand view of the 
mountains. They all admired it, but no one was so en- 
thusiastic in her admiration as Agnes. They stopped the 
carriage, and spent some time in taking in the view ; but 
Mrs. Chapman, on consulting her watch, said they must 
hasten, as it was getting late. 

When they reached the hotel, it wanted but fifteen 
minutes to tea time. So Mrs. Chapman hurriedly sent 
the children off to dress for tea. 


CHAPTER V. 


A DAY OF REFRESHING. 

O ATURDAY night came again ; but although Louise 
^ did her best to induce Agnes to go to the hop, it 
was all in vain. She stood firm. It was hard to be 
laughed at and ridiculed, but she had made up her mind 
that she would not again visit the dance hall. 

The Sunday that followed was some improvement on 
the previous one, for there was a minister stopping at the 
hotel who consented to conduct the services and to deliver 
a short sermon ; however, it was not much like the Lord’s 
Days that Agnes was accustomed to enjoy. 

There was one Sunday, however, which the child 
remembered as one of the happiest days of her stay at 
the Springs. She had been looking forward to the day 
with Some uneasiness as to how it would be spent, there 
being no minister at the house, and a secret wish that 
she were at home. An announcement was made at the 
breakfast table, however, which changed her feelings 
completely, and let her see that the dear Lord does bring 
days of refreshing for his children even when they are in 
seemingly dry places. 

One of the boarders made the remark that people 

60 


60 


STEP BY STEP. 


would have no excuse for not attending church that day, 
whatever they might have other days, although it was 
rather a strange church he would admit. A man was 
to preach in the woods, about a mile distant from the 
hotel, and afterward was to baptize a number of people 
down at the lake. Agnes fairly caught her breath. She 
felt as though she would never borrow trouble again; 
here she had been fretting about this day, and the Lord 
had given her more than she would ever have dared to 
ask for in such a place as this. 

She looked up at the speaker, and with eyes sparkling, 
asked him the time of the service. He said that he 
believed the preaching was to be at ten, the other service 
immediately following. 

“ I think I will go,” announced Louise — “ that is, to the 
baptism. I don’t care about any sermon, but I never 
saw a baptism of that kind. I wish it was not so far, 
though.” 

Mrs. Chapman thought she would not venture on so 
long a walk. Herbert and Louise would go down to the 
lake after the sermon was over, but Agnes would go to 
the whole of the services, notwithstanding Louise declared 
that she would certainly tire herself all out sitting on a 
rough, old seat in the woods for an hour or more listen- 
ing to a prosy sermon. Agnes, however, thought differ- 
ently, so go she would, and go she did. 

It was rather a tiresome walk for the little girl. The 


STEP BY STEP. 


61 


day was warm, and part of the way led her through deep 
sands. She was used to walking on brick sidewalks, but 
nothing daunted, she plodded her way along as best she 
could alone, while the sand filled her shoes and impeded 
her progress. She did not know the way, but followed 
others whom she judged by their appearance to be bound 
for the same destination. The walk came to an end at 
last, and she found herself at the place of meeting. There 
was a small temporary platform built up under the shade 
of a large maple tree, while a little table served as a 
pulpit. The seats for the congregation certainly could 
not be called comfortable, being of rough boards. 

Agnes was just in time for the services. The minister 
rose and gave out a hymn. He was rather young, but 
spoke with the zeal and fervor of one of maturer years, 
and to the little girl so hungry for the words of the Bible, 
it seemed as though they had never sounded sweeter. 
The hymn given out was a familiar one, in which the 
greater part of the congregation joined. Then the prayer 
that followed w'as one that went straight to the heart of 
the listener, and the minister kneeling there on that rude 
platform, with uncovered head, seemed to be no stranger 
at the throne of grace. The prayer being ended, they 
sang again, and then the speaker rose and announced his 
text. It was from Matthew 10 : 32, 33 : “ Whosoever 
therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess 
also before my Father which is in heaven. But whoso- 


62 


STEP BY STEP. 


ever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny 
before my Father which is in heaven.” 

He began by asking the question : “ My friend, do you 
wish Christ to confess you before his Father by-and-by ? 
If so, you know the conditions. I bring no new message 
to you to-day, but one that you have heard often and 
often — some of you, indeed, so often that I fear it is 
beginning to lose its effect upon you ; but once more you 
are permitted to listen. I wish for a few moments to 
speak to you of the great love of the Lord Jesus Christ 
in leaving his home in glory and condescending to become 
man and dwell among men. And why was it? Was it for 
any glory or lionor that he hoped to gain for himself, or 
was it because of the great love he felt toward us poor 
sinners ? Was it because even in our most holy moments 
we deserved such love ? The Bible answers nay. ‘ For 
when we were yet without strength in due time Christ 
died for the ungodly.’ Some people have a mistaken 
notion of earning a right to one of the mansions prepared 
above. Is there anyone here who has a similar idea? 
If so, let me ask you how many good works you deem 
sufficient to make atonement for the transgressions you 
have committed ? Does the Bible answer ? Yes ; it says : 
‘ By the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified.’ ” 

The speaker went on thus for some few minutes, 
enlarging on the love of Christ and his terrible suffer- 
ings, and then took up the other point of the discourse. 


STEP BY STEP. 


63 


“But, do you say with the terrified jailer, ‘What 
must I do to be saved ? ^ Let me, with Paul, say, ‘ Be- 
lieve on the Lord Jesus Christ ’ ; and when you believe, 
do as he did — confess him. To-day a number of our 
friends are to confess Christ before the world in baptism. 
And I pray God that the baptismal services may speak 
to the hearts of the unsaved, more eloquently than any 
words of mine can. As you see your friends and ac- 
quaintances buried beneath the water, thus typifying 
their death and burial to sin, and raised again, thus 
showing forth their resurrection to a new life, may you 
be led to inquire of your own heart, ‘ Why not I ? ’ 
They are confessing Christ; by-and-by he will confess 
them. Will he also confess you ? Or will you be among 
those who are to be denied by him, and sent away into 
everlasting punishment ? You will be with one class or 
the other, for there is no neutral ground. 

“ In closing, let me quote a few words from the Rev. 
J. G. Pike, which were given me to read when I was 
under conviction, and which were the means, in God’s 
hand, of leading me to decide that I would be found at 
the Lord’s right hand in that day. Speaking of the 
great patience and long-sufiering of God, he says : ‘ And 
when will that love cease? The narrow span of time 
cannot set limits to its riches ; and the ample ages of 
eternity will never bring its end. He declares that he 
will display it there by having his followers with him. 


64 


STEP BY STEP. 


and by exalting them to honors inconceivable now. 
There he will give them eternal deliverance from labors, 
sins, and sorrows. There he will own them before his 
Father, and before an assembled world, and through 
eternal ages will bless them with his presence, and en- 
rich them with his love and care. For the Lamb 
which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and 
shall lead them unto living fountains of waters, and God 
shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” ’ My dear 
unconverted friend, do you wish to be among the 
number ? ” 

There were tears in the eyes of many of the hearers, 
as he finished. Would the seed sown spring up and bear 
fruit? God alone knew. They sang again, and then 
walked down to the shore of the lake. 

There were two young girls who walked just behind 
Agnes. They were evidently from some of the country 
houses, and not used to hearing many sermons. Said 
one of them, in a voice that expressed pent-up emotion . 

“ I never heard any one talk so before — never. I tell 
you it went right to my heart. I never thought about it 
in that way before. Do you suppose that the Saviour 
would confess us, Sarah, if we were to die noyf ? ” 

Her companion shook her head sadly. 

“ I’m afraid not,” she said. ‘‘ I never did anything so 
very bad ; that is, I never stole, nor swore, excepting 
once, when Farmer Hoyt’s cattle got into our garden. 







step by Step. 


Page 65 






STEP BY STEP. 


65 


and I had to go and drive them out. But then I never 
did nothing very good, either ; and ” — in a reverent 
voice, lowered almost to a whisper — “ I never confessed 
him. So why should he confess me? ” 

The words to which they had listened had been re- 
ceived into their hearts ; but whether they would find 
lodgment or not, eternity would reveal. 

The shore of the lake was soon reached. Here Agnes 
found Herbert and Louise waiting. The scene was im- 
pressive and beautiful ; yet there were those who seemed 
to see nothing in it, and the few words spoken by the 
preacher were as the drops of rain beating against the 
window pane, and making no impression. 

The first candidate was a young man of perhaps twenty 
years of age ; and as he was led out into the water, an 
almost heavenly expression was on his face. 

My brother,” said the minister, “ do you believe on 
the Lord Jesus Christ, and do you promise to be his dis- 
ciple unto death ? ” 

And clear and distinct came the answer, “ I do.” 

“ Then, upon this confession of your faith, I do now 
baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, 
and of the Holy Spirit.” 

The people at the water’s edge sang 

“ Oh, happy day that fixed ray choice,” 

and the young man was led up out of the water. 

E 


66 


STEP BY STEP. 


There were four others who were baptized ; two of 
them being women. As the last candidate reached the 
shore, the minister, who had lingered a moment in the 
water, raised his hands as though to pronounce the bene- 
diction, and said: “Lord, it is done as thou hast com- 
manded, and yet there is room.” 

The crowd slowly wended their way homeward. Louise 
at first was inclined to be talkative ; Agnes, for the most 
part, silent. 

“ I never saw anything like that before,” said Louise. 
“ I should have thought they would have been dreadfully 
afraid, shouldn’t you. Cousin Agnes ? ” 

“No.” 

“ I should, though, I wouldn’t dare to be baptized, I 
am sure, should you ? ” 

“ Yes, I have been,” was the simple reply. 

“ What ! like that ? ” 

“ Yes ; only it was in a baptistery, in the church. 

“ But did you go into the water just the same ? ” 

“Yes.” 

“ Then you are a church member ? ” 

“Yes.” 

There was nothing more said just then. For once 
Louise seemed a trifle awed ; while Herbert maintained 
a complete silence the whole of the way home. 


CHAPTER VI. 


HOME AGAIN, 



HE six weeks were ended, and now the day for 


returning home again had come. The trunks w^ere 
packed and standing on the veranda, waiting for the 
baggage wagon. Agnes was delighted with the prospect 
of seeing her father again ; yet there was a little feeling 
of regret as seated in the stage she saw the hotel pass 
from view. They had been weeks of loneliness and trial 
to her in many ways, yet she had enjoyed herself for all 
that. The ride to the station as well as the rest of the 
journey was made for the most part in silence. Some- 
how none of the party seemed to feel just like conversa- 
tion. In the case of Agnes, this was probably due in 
part to the thoughts of her father, which filled her mind. 
His steamer had been due the day before, and conse- 
quently she expected him to meet her at the station. So 
they sped along mile after mile in silence, broken occa- 
sionally by a few words from some member of the party. 

The cars were nearing the city where Agnes lived, 
when she touched Mrs. Chapman timidly on the arm. 

“ Cousin Lucy,” she said, “ I wish to thank you for 
your kindness to me while I have been with you.” 


67 


68 


STEP BY STEP. 


“Oh, pray do not mention it,” said the lady. “I 
assure you it was a pleasure to us to have you for one of 
our party. What I did was nothing — nothing worth 
mentioning, that is.” 

“ You were very kind, though.” 

“ Oh, well, you were no trouble, I am sure — not half 
the trouble Louise is.” 

Not liking to cause any further comparisons to be 
made, Agnes settled back in her chair again ; only for a 
few minutes, however, for it was soon time for her to 
collect her things, as they were coming into the station. 
How her heart beat! Now she w’ould see her father; 
but supposing, after all, something had happened that he 
should not be there? Siie could hardly bear the thought ; 
she even dreaded to look out of the window lest she 
should fail to see him. But she must look. Yes, there 
he was I — her dear, dear father, whom she had not seen 
for six long weeks. She bade the Chapmans a hasty 
good-bye and rushed out of the car. The next moment 
she was clasped in her father’s arms and was really shed- 
ding tears of joy. He put her aside for a moment to 
enter the car and invite the Cnapmans to stop over with 
him, but they said they must hasten on. Then he went 
back to Agues. 

“And how is my little girl?” he asked, after he had 
attended to her baggage and started for home with her. 

“ Very well, papa.” 


STEP BY STEP. 


69 


“Was my pet very lonesome?” 

“ Sometimes very lonesome.” 

“And did you find it hard to show your colors as a 
Christian ? ” 

“ Oh, papa, very ! I am afraid I did not always do it, 
either. I am sure that I was not as good as I should 
have been.” 

They walked on in silence for some time. Then Agnes 
asked her father when he reached home. 

“ Yesterday morning,” he replied. “ The steamer was 
on time. We had a very good passage returning, better 
even than we had going over.” 

“ Were you sick, papa ? ” 

“No, nothing to speak of.” 

“ Oh, papa,” cried the little girl, clapping her hands, 
“ there is our house ! Oh, how nice it does seem to see it 
again ! Is Aunt Ellen well?” 

“ Yes, they are all well.” 

In a few moments more she was in her aunt’s arms, 
while Jane, all smiles, was looking on and telling how 
much better Miss Agnes looked ; she had really grown 
quite stout, besides being brown as a berry. 

The rest of the day was spent very quietly. Agnes, 
being somewhat tired by her long journey, was contented 
to walk over the house, examining everything that came 
in her way, and then, after tea, to sit quietly by her 
father’s side in the library and hear about his voyage, 


70 


STEP BY STEP. 


while he, in turn, listened to what she had to say of her 
visit to the Springs. 

“ So you think them rather gay there, do you ? ” he 
asked, after hearing her accounts of the people. 

“Very, papa. I wondered sometimes if there were 
any Christians in the whole hotel. I saw one or two that 
I thought might be, but I could not really tell. Most 
of them, though, did not seem to care for anything but 
dressing, dancing, and things of that kind. The Chap- 
mans are not Christians, papa.’* 

“ No ; I know they are not. I wish they were. Mrs. 
Chapman had a Christian mother, however, and was 
consequently brought up in a Christian home, but that 
good mother has gone to her reward without seeing her 
daughter brought to Christ.” 

There was silence a moment, and then Agnes said, 
thoughtfully : 

“You would not think, to hear her talk, that she ever 
knew what it meant to be a Christian.” 

“ Little girl,” said her father, fondly stroking back her 
hair, “it sometimes seems that those who are brought up 
in Christian homes are harder to make any impression 
on than those who are not, especially if they grow up to 
manhood or womanhood without yielding themselves to 
the Saviour. They seem to be hardened.” 

They sat there a little longer, and then Mr. Rice said 
Agnes really must go to bed, as it was getting late and 


STEP BY STEP. 


71 


she was tired. It seemed as though she could hardly 
bear to leave her father, but finally, after a good 
many attempts, she gave him one more kiss and de- 
parted. 

When she awoke the next morning, it took her some 
little time to realize where she was. It seemed hardly 
possible to her that she was really at home, in her own 
little room once more. In haste she rose and dressed, 
hardly able to wait that long before seeing her father. 
It seemed almost too good to be true that he was really 
in the house, and at the breakfast table her Aunt Ellen 
laughingly declared that Agnes feasted her eyes on her 
father so much that she nearly forgot to eat. 

After Mr. Rice had gone to his office, Agnes again 
walked over the house, taking a general survey of every- 
thing that came in her way. 

She had completed her tour of inspection and was in 
her own room, when, hearing her aunt go by, she opened 
the door and called to her. She came in and sat down 
by the window. 

“Aunt Ellen,” said Agnes, shyly, handing her a little 
package, “ here is something I made for you when I was 
away.” 

“For me?” And the good lady opened her eyes in 
surprise. 

“Yes. I thought, perhaps, you would like them. 
Some one stopping at the Springs showed me how.” 


72 


STEP BY STEP. 


By this time the bundle was untied and the little 
crocheted mats were spread out on her aunt’s lap. 

“ Why, Agnes,” she said, “ how very thoughtful of you ! 
they are so pretty ! And did you make them all your- 
self? ” 

“ Yes, ma’am.” 

“ You were very kind, my child,” said her aunt, kiss- 
ing her, “ and I shall put them in my room right away, 
where every time I see them they will remind me of 
Agnes.” 

The child was delighted. To her it truly was a pleas- 
ure to give as well as to receive. 

But she had an opportunity to try the receiving a little 
later. It was that evening, when Mr. Rice and Agnes 
were again seated in the library. Her father left the 
room for a moment and returned with a small package, 
which he handed to her, saying : 

“ I brought this from London for my little girl. Will 
she accept it with papa's love ? ” 

She held the package for some time without unwrap- 
ping it. 

“ I don’t know what it can be,” she said, after she had 
turned it over and over. 

“ Supposing you undo it and see,” suggested her father. 

She laughed, and commenced to untie the twine. 
Whatever it was, it had been carefully wrapped in tissue 
paper. That being off, disclosed a very pretty little 




step by Step. 


I’age 73. 


STEP BY STEP. 


73 


plush box. Again the child hesitated before opening it. 
Her father would not hurry her this time, but let her 
take it leisurely. After a moment or two, she pressed 
the little spring that held the lid down and looked in. 
Then there burst from her lips the exclamation : “ Oh, 
papa ! ” 

“ How does my daughter like it ? ” 

“ Oh, papa ! ” she said again. 

He laughed, and asked if it took her breath away. 

“ What a dear, dear little watch ! ” she managed to say 
at last. “ Is it really for me ? ” 

‘‘ Certainly. For whom else should it be ? ” 

“ Oh, but it is too good to be true ! ” said the child. 
“ I always did so want a watch, but I did not expect to 
have one until I was grown up.’’ She took it out of the 
case now and examined it. 

“ How pretty it is, and how very, very good of you, 
papa, to buy it for me.” 

He opened the cover for her and let her read the 
inscription that was engraved within : “ Agnes Rice, from 
her father.” Then he shut it and handed it to her again. 

“ I must go and find Aunt Ellen and show it to her,” 
she cried, jumping up and running out of the room. 

Mr. Rice followed her with his eyes as she left him. 
How very like her mother she was growing to be, in both 
looks and manner ! If only she would grow up to be like 
her in character, that would be best of all. 


CHAPTER VIL 


DUTY. 

I T was the winter following Agnes’ visit at the Springs. 

She had been praying that the Lord would give her 
some work to do for him, and also make her willing to do 
it ; but it came in an unexpected way. It was on this 
wise : She was in prayer-meeting one evening, when the 
minister chose for his Scripture reading a part of the third 
chapter of Ezekiel, beginning with the seventeenth verse. 
As Agnes listened to the words, she was almost startled : 

“ Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the 
house of Israel : therefore hear the word at my mouth, 
and give them warning from me. When I say unto the 
wicked. Thou shalt surely die ; and thou givest him not 
warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked 
way, to save his life ; the same wicked man shall die in 
his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 
Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his 
wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his 
iniquity ; but thou hast delivered thy soul.” 

Some questions arose in her mind. Had she indeed 
been made a watchman? If so, had she been faithful? 

Whom had she warned ? If she had not warned her 
74 


STEP BY STEP. 


75 


friends and acquaintances, then would their blood be re- 
quired at her hand ? She began to think how many she 
had ever spoken to on the subject of their soul’s salvation. 
There were two or three that she remembered. One, a 
very dear friend and schoolmate, for whose conversion she 
had longed, after she had herself come out into the light. 
But what were the two or three, as compared with the 
hundreds and thousands all around her ? Like a flash 
came to her mind their servant Jane. Had any one ever 
warned her? Certainly she had not. But then Jane 
would not understand what she meant. Her belief, if 
she had any, was so entirely different ; and perhaps she 
would be greatly offended. Oh, she could not speak to 
her ! It seemed an impossibility. She would not give it 
another thought, but try and think of some one else to 
approach who would understand her better. 

She could think of no other person, however, but Jane. 
Why could she not forget it ? What would be the use, 
anyway ? If Jane did not pay any heed to her words, 
as she probably would not, it would avail nothing. But 
like a flash came those words : “ Yet if thou warn the 
wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from 
his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity ; hut thou hast 
delivered thy soul.” 

She heard but very little of the rest of the services. 
She believed it was mostly about bearing the cross, and 
about warning the wicked ; and she went home feeling 


76 


STEP BY STEP. 


as though a great weight rested on her heart. The next 
day it was no better. What should she do ? Wherever 
she went, the burden went with her. Whenever she tried 
to pray, it rose up before her. 

If only the Lord had asked her to do something else, 
she thought she could have done it ; but this was so hard. 
Poor child ! She stood where many another Christian 
has stood — facing an unperformed duty. And no person 
in that position was ever yet known to advance spirit- 
ually. She was not happy ; and whenever she saw Jane, 
it sent a pang to her heart. She knew her duty, but was 
unwilling to do it. 

So the days and weeks went by, and still the duty re- 
mained unperformed ; and still Agnes was unhappy, and 
lost ground spiritually. How long could she stand this ? 

She went into the kitchen one day, where Jane was at 
work. She had carefully avoided being alone with her 
before ; but she went in now, hoping she might have the 
courage to say a word. It was Saturday afternoon ; and, 
after making several commonplace remarks, she alluded 
to the fact that the next day was Sunday. Jane as- 
sented to it. 

The next remark was something about going to church ; 
and she asked Jane if she intended to go. She said she 
presumed so. Then she asked if she enjoyed going? 
Well enough, she supposed. 

Agnes gave it up. She knew she had not commenced 


STEP BY STEP. 


77 


right, and really felt as though she could not say another 
word. And so, as more days and weeks went by, she 
got more and more into the dark, and grew more and 
more unhappy. 

At last one day, as she was kneeling in prayer, it all 
seemed to come up before her, and so overwhelm her that 
she was obliged to stop. It seemed impossible for her to 
offer another word of prayer so long as she was living 
in disobedience. She rose from her knees, feeling as 
though the very foundations were giving way underneath 
her. She took up her Bible ; but not knowing where to 
turn, she let it fall open of itself. The place was Mark, 
the fifteenth chapter. She read the chapter through ; 
and when she came to the cruel mockings and scourgings 
which the Saviour endured, and realized that it was for 
her ; and that for her he hung upon the cross and died, 
she was completely humbled. Here the Saviour had 
done so much for her, and could she not do this one little 
thing that he asked of her ? She fell upon her knees 
and sobbed. They were tears of penitence, however; 
and as she shed them, she prayed for forgiveness. 

It was not easy for her even now to do what she knew 
to be her duty. She had put it off so long that it had 
grown harder, instead of easier. But she asked the 
Lord to help her, and she felt assured that he would. 
She trembled considerably as she went down to the 
kitchen ; but she knew wherein her strength lay. 


78 


STEP BY STEP. 


Jane was sitting by the table, paring apples. She had 
a tin pan in her lap which held the anpared apples, and 
into which the peeling was dropping as it was shaved off. 
For a long time after, whenever Agnes saw any one 
paring apples, her mind reverted to this day, when she 
stood there watching Jane, and trying to find voice to 
speak. 

One apple after another had been disposed of, until 
there were only six in the pan. This would not do. She 
must speak. 

“Jane,” she said, making a great effort, while her 
voice seemed to her to sound strangely unnatural, “ did 
you ever think about being a Christian ? ” 

The woman stopped short in her work, with a half- 
pared apple in her hand, and, without even removing her 
knife, looked up in surprise. 

“What’s that. Miss Agnes?” she asked, looking be- 
wildered. 

“ Did you ever think about being a Christian, Jane? 
I mean, ever think you would like to be, or ought to be 
one, you know ? ” 

“ I don’t know,” was the reply. “ Mebby I have, and 
mebby I haven't. I don’t s’pose I ever troubled myself 
much about it, anyway.” 

“ Then I wish you would. Won’t you, Jane ? ” 

“I don’t know. For the land’s sake. Miss Agnes, 
whatever put such a notion into your head ? ” 


STEP BY STEP. 79 

I was wondering if any one had ever asked you to 
become a Christian.” 

“ I don’t know as ever they did, excepting your mamma. 
She used to talk to me some. Your mamma was a Chris- 
tian, if ever there was one. Miss Agnes.” 

“ I know it,” said the child, with a tremor in her voice. 
‘‘ And wouldn’t you like to be one too ? ” 

“ I don’t know. I reckon I’m as good as some pro- 
fessors. 

‘‘ Oh ! but that is not the question, you know. It is 
what you do. Whether you love Jesus or not. ' You do 
love him, don’t you, Jane? ” 

The woman shrank from the clear, searching gaze of 
the child. She moved uneasily in her chair, seemed to 
be trying to think of a suitable reply, and finally said : 

“ I wish you wouldn't talk to me no more about it. 
Miss Agnes. I suppose I’m old enough to look after 
myself.” 

Agnes subsided, hurt that she should have been re- 
pulsed, but with the feeling deep down in her heart that, 
now that she had done what she could, the results be- 
longed with the Lord. 

Her heart was lighter than it had been for weeks. She 
could pray now. The barrier between her soul and God 
had been removed ; and that night, as she knelt in 
prayer, it was to consecrate herself more fully to the 
Master’s service. 


CHAPTER VIII. 


AGNES AT EIGHTEEN. 


EARLY six years had passed — years that might be 



said to have been uneventful ones to Agnes in one 
way; yet no years can be wholly uneventful. Things 
had gone on quietly, however, and the little girl who had 
been occupied in studies and play was now just stepping 
into womanhood. 

It was the autumn following her eighteenth birthday. 
She had said good-bye to school in the summer, wonder- 
ing, as many other girls have done, what she should find 
to occupy herself with now that she was to be at home 
all day. There were two events, however, connected 
with that autumn that she had some reason to remember. 
One was her taking a class of little girls in the Sunday- 
school. It was something that she had often thought of, 
and work to which she had felt drawn, yet she found, as 
time went by, it had its discouragements as well as its 
pleasures ; but she was much attached to her class, which 
consisted of six little girls just drawn from the primary 
room. 

The other incident that occurred at about the same 
time was entirely different. She received an invitation 


80 


STEP BY STEP. 


81 


to attend a conversation party, to be given by one of her 
acquaintances. She was not anxious to go — indeed, she 
rather dreaded it, owing to the fact that she had but a 
slight acquaintance with the young lady who was to give 
the party, and would probably not know many of the 
guests. 

She went, however. At first, she felt confident that 
the evening would not be a pleasant one, fully one-half 
of the company being entire strangers to her. The cards 
containing the topics for conversation had been dis- 
tributed, and the guests were laughing and discussing 
them. Agnes glanced at her card. Among other sub- 
jects, she noticed the following: “My hobby.” “What 
can a person without any special talent do ? ” “ My idea 

of true happiness.” “Why do the robins sing in the 
morning ? ” 

At a signal from the hostess, the gentlemen all started 
to fill out their cards, which they accordingly handed to 
the ladies, who selected a subject, underneath which they 
wrote their name, the gentleman placing his name under 
the same subject on the lady’s card. Ten minutes were 
allowed for filling the cards and five minutes to converse 
on each subject. 

The first gentleman with whom Agnes talked was a 
complete stranger to her, and also a complete bore. The 
topic was, “ My hobby,” and Agnes declared afterward 

that in her whole life she did not recall any special five 

F 


82 


STEP BY STEP. 


minutes spent as stupidly as those were. The young man 
talked incessantly. His “ hobby, he declared, was danc- 
ing. He admired and adored dancing. It was victuals, 
drink, and life to him. Agnes had no chance to talk 
herself — indeed, if she had, she would scarcely have 
known what to say to one so senseless. It was a great 
relief to her when the signal sounded announcing the 
expiration of that five-minute period. She hoped the 
whole evening was not to be spent in that way ; it would 
seem worse than wasted if it was. 

The next topic related to the robin, and for five min- 
utes more she listened to foolish talk. The gentleman 
with whom she conversed on that subject declared it was 
because it was a very foolish bird — foolish to get up so 
early in the morning. Why could he not just as well 
sing an hour or two later? Any one was foolish to rise 
at an unreasonable hour just to sing. It was simply 
because the bird lacked common sense. 

By the time topic number six had been reached, Agnes 
was strongly tempted to make her escape and go home, 
on some pretext or another. She glanced at her card. 
The seventh number was, “ My idea of true happiness,’^ 
the name under the subject, “ R. E. Leighton,^’ some one 
with whom Agnes had no acquaintance whatever. She 
waited anxiously to see what kind of a person he might 
be. He came up to her presently, bowed slightly, and 
took a seat by her side. She took a general survey of 


STEP BY STEP. 


83 


the young man, and came to the conclusion that he 
certainly had very nice hands, something which Agnes 
always observed in any one. 

“Well, Miss Rice,” began the gentleman, “you and I 
are strangers, but I believe we are to converse together 
a few moments on our idea of true happiness. I suppose 
that it is a subject on which people’s opinion greatly 
differ. I trust we may agree. You will pardon me if I 
ask if you have found true happiness in the religion of 
the Lord Jesus Christ ? ” 

How Agnes’ heart leaped for joy! Here was one 
among the company, at any rate, who could sympathize 
with her. 

“ Oh, yes I ” she said, eagerly. 

“ Praise the Lord for that I ” The words were spoken 
with deep fervor. ‘ Now may I ask if you think there 
is any true happiness outside of that ? ” 

“ I think not — at least, I have never found it.” 

“ Do you think any one has ? ” 

“No. I have never seen any one who has. Many 
profess to find it in the world, but their actions prove 
them still unsatisfied.” 

“Very true. There is, indeed, ‘an aching void the 
world can never fill.’ How long have you known this 
true happiness. Miss Rice — experimentally, that is ? ” 

“Ever since I was eleven years of age.” 

“ Has it never failed you ? ” 


84 


STEP BY STEP. 


“ No — that is, not unless it was my own fault. I have 
always found that when I kept close to the Saviour, he 
kept close to me.” 

“The experience of every true child of God. You 
know we have his promise for it : ‘ Thou wilt keep him 
in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he 
trusteth in thee.’ ” 

“ How beautiful that is ! ” 

“ Very beautiful, yet how few, even among professing 
Christians, have that ‘ perfect peace ’ at ail times. They 
have tastes of it, and then lose it. Why is it, do you 
think?” 

“ I suppose because they do not fulfill the conditions.” 

“ Namely? ” 

“ To have our minds stayed on him.” 

“That is certainly the reason. Then as to finding 
pleasure and happiness in the world, we have the expe- 
rience of the wisest and richest of monarchs: ^The 
Preacher, the son of David, King of Jerusalem.’ His 
cry is: ‘ Vanity of vanities ; all is vanity.’ You remem- 
ber in the second chapter of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon 
tells what he had to enjoy life with — mirth, laughter, 
wine, houses, vineyards, gardens and orchards, pools of 
water, servants, great possessions of cattle, silver and 
gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings, singers and 
musical instruments of all sorts, and whatsoever his eyes 
desired, he declared, that he kept not from them ; yet 


STEP BY STEP. 


85 


when he looked on the works that his hands had wrought 
and on the labor that he had labored to do, he declared 
that all was ‘ vanity and vexation of spirit.* He certainly 
went to the full extent of earthly luxuries, Miss Rice.” 

“Indeed, he did. ‘For what can the man do that 
cometh after the king?* ** 

Just then the signal was given announcing that the 
five minutes had expired. 

“I am very sorry,** said Agnes, frankly. “We had 
just begun to talk, and really, Mr. Leighton, it is the 
first bit of sensible talk I have been permitted to listen 
to this evening.” 

“I trust we are no longer strangers,*’ he said, smiling, 
“ seeing we have one Father in heaven, and belong to the 
same household of faith.’* 

Agnes wished she need not talk any more that even- 
ing. How could she listen to nonsense again with those 
words still ringing in her ears ? As it happened, how- 
ever, for the few remaining topics she conversed with 
those with whom she was somewhat acquainted, and the 
talk did not drift into frivolous jesting so much as before. 
However, Agnes was not sorry when the topics were 
exhausted, which brought an end to that part of the 
programme. 

Then came supper. Mr. Leighton was her escort, for 
which she was heartily glad, although there was no 
chance to continue the previous conversation then. The 


86 


STEP BY STEP. 


supper passed off pleasantly; then came music, after 
which the guests began to take their departure. 

Mr. Leighton asked the pleasure of seeing Agnes home. 
They walked along a few moments in comparative silence, 
making only commonplace remarks occasionally. Then 
he said : 

“ So you think much of the conversation this evening 
of an unprofitable kind, Miss Kice ? ” 

“Yes,” she answered, with a smile. 

“ It could hardly be called seasoned with salt, I sup- 
pose,” he observed. 

“ No, indeed,” she replied. 

There was another brief pause ; then Agnes asked him 
if he were a stranger in the place. 

“Yes,” he said. “I am visiting our friend who gave 
the party. My home is some distance from here.” 

They had reached Mr. Rice's house by this time. The 
walk had seemed very short. Agnes had intended to 
talk with him more, but somehow she could not seem to 
bring it about. 

He stopped a moment at the gate, and holding out his 
hand, grasped hers and gave it a hearty shake. 

“ I have never been in this city before. Miss Rice,” he 
«aid, “and possibly I may never come here again, but I 
trust we shall be well acquainted in ‘The Sweet By-and- 
By ’ ! ” He lifted his hat and was gone. 


CHAPTER IX. 


AGNES SAILS TO BERMUDA. 

F or the second time Mr. Rice was called to Europe 
on business. It was in the month of February, 
this time. When he announced his intention to Agnes, 
she laughingly declared that he could not dispose of her 
on this occasion by sending her into the country, as it 
was winter, and all the hotels were closed. 

“I know it,” he replied. “But supposing I should 
send you somewhere else ? ” 

“ I do not know where it could be. You certainly 
would not wish me to go away alone ; and I know of no 
one else who is going anywhere.” 

“Perhaps I do, though. How would you like to go 
with your old friends, the Chapmans, again?” 

“Go where with them, papa?” 

“ They are going to the Bermuda Islands.” 

“ I should like to go, as long as you are obliged to be 
away. It would be very lonesome here without you.” 

“ So I thought.” 

“ But, papa, I really do not feel as though I wanted to 
go to a large hotel again. I have not wholly gotten over 
my childish horror of hotel life.” 


87 


88 


STEP BY STEP. 


“ No need to worry about that, daughter. Mrs. Chap- 
man does not wish to go to one herself this time. She is 
nervous and not very well, and goes for the rest and 
change. So she chooses a private boarding place. They 
heard there was a possibility of my going abroad, and 
wrote, begging me to send you with them. They really 
seem quite anxious for your company.” 

Well, papa, I shall miss you ; but not so much, I 
think, as if I were at home.” 

“ I am very glad you look at it in that way. I only 
wish it were so I could take you with me. But I am 
going simply for business, and fear it would be a dull 
time for you.” 

“ How soon are we to start, papa ? ” 

“ The steamer sails from New York next week, 
Thursday.” 

So at the appointed time Agnes, in company with her 
father, who was to see her off, met the Chapmans on the 
deck of the steamer Trinidad. 

Mrs. Chapman was a trifle thinner than when Agnes 
last saw her, more than six years ago. She was very 
poorly, she said. Everything made her nervous. Louise 
seemed just the same, although such a time had elapsed 
since the girls had met. Agnes thought she should have 
known her anywhere. Herbert, however, was changed. 
Agnes would hardly have recognized the boy of her ac- 
quaintance in this tall, fine-looking young man who came 


STEP BY STEP. 


89 


up to greet her. They all three seemed pleased at the 
meeting, and declared that she was a great addition to 
the party. 

Agnes had never been to sea before ; so everything 
was entirely new to her. There were many passengers 
and she amused herself watching them and the men 
getting the baggage aboard. The porters were running 
up and down the saloon stairs, carrying state room trunks, 
bags, umbrellas, sea chairs, and the various articles 
people who were going to sea would be likely to take 
with them. 

“ How nice this is ! ” remarked Louise. 

“ You will not think so in a few hours,” said her 
brother. 

At last the baggage was all aboard, and the steward 
walked through the saloon and up and down the deck, 
ringing a bell, and shouting, “ All ashore that’s going.” 

Mr. Rice kissed his daughter, and hurried ashore. 
The gang plank was taken up, and the huge cables that 
fastened the steamer to the wharf were thrown off; then 
she swung round into the stream. 

The people on the dock waved their handkerchiefs, 
and those on the steamer replied. Slowly at first, and 
then faster, the Trinidad moved away from the pier, 
until the people could no longer distinguish the faces of 
their friends from those of the crowd around. Then 
there was a scattering all over the deck. Sea chairs 


90 


STEP BY STEP. 


were brought out and arranged on the deck ; the passen- 
gers threw their shawls and wraps around themselves, and 
settled themselves down in comfort. 

The ship made her way down North River, past the 
Bartholdi Statue, and toward the open sea. It was 
about two hours after they left the dock that Sandy 
Hook was reached. The steamer began to roll uneasily, 
and then there was a general thinning out of the passen- 
gers on deck. The chairs were vacated, and only the 
good sailors remained. It was five o’clock when the first 
bell rang for dinner ; but Herbert was the only one of 
the party who cared to go down. Soon after, the others 
went to their state room. 

Agnes did not leave her berth for two days. She lay 
looking round the state room at the things as they slid 
back and forth. The second night out was very rough. 
Louise moaned, and wished she had not come; while 
Mrs. Chapman declared it was dreadful, and she did 
not know how she was ever to stand the voyage home 
again. 

Herbert came in to see them often during the two days 
they were confined there. He generally exasperated 
Louise on such occasions, however. 

“Was it ever so rough, before, Herbert?” she would 
ask. 

“ Rough ! ” he would reply ; “ why, I hope you do not 
call this rough. You wait until you see a good swell on. 



step by Step, 


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STEP BY STEP. 


91 


This is about like a mill pond in comparison to what they 
often have.” 

Then Louise would begin to fret, and tell him she 
wished he would stay away. Whereupon he would make 
his exit, muttering that he wished she would not be so 
cross, even if she was sea sick. 

The day before they were due in port, however, they 
all felt better, and, with the help of the stewardess, were 
enabled to get on deck. How delightful it was, after 
being confined below! They were crossing the Gulf 
Stream, and the temperature was much warmer than 
when they left New York. A ship, with all sails set, 
passed them at some distance, while gulf weed, in great 
abundance, floated by. 

“ How strange, not to see any land I ” remarked Agnes. 

“ I am sure I should be most happy if I could see 
some,” said Mrs. Chapman, peevishly. “I never want 
to go to sea again.” 

A little later in the day, when Agnes was feeling 
somewhat better, Herbert took her over the ship. She 
w^as much interested in everything she saw. Then he 
pointed out the captain’s bridge, and told her how, some 
years ago, in a fierce storm, the captain of this steamer 
had stayed on the bridge day and night, with only 
crackers and cofibe for refreshment ; and that the passen- 
gers said he had saved the ship by so doing. They made 
up a large purse of money for him. Then they w'ent up 


92 


STEP BY STEP. 


to the hurricane deck. How high up they seemed, and 
how far they could see ! But in every direction nothing 
but water met their gaze. 

“ To-morrow morning, if all goes well, we shall see 
something else,’^ said Herbert. 

That night, Agnes was awakened by Mrs. Chapman. 

“ Agnes,’’ she said, in an excited voice, do wake up. 
I am sure something must be wrong. I have tried to 
waken Louise ; but you know just how cross she is when 
she is sleepy. Don’t you notice that the steamer has 
stopped, and hear the sailors running round on the deck, 
and shouting ? I am afraid something has happened.” 

Agnes roused herself and looked out of the port ; but 
did not see anything alarming. It was bright starlight, 
and there was just swell enough on to rock the steamer 
gently. 

“ I think nothing is the matter. Cousin Lucy,” she said. 
“We are only nearing land. I can see a light that evi- 
dently comes from a lighthouse.” 

“ Oh, dear ! ” groaned Mrs. Chapman, “ I am so 
dreadfully nervous. This is such a dangerous coast. 
There is only one place where vessels can get over the 
reefs. You know there are reefs- all around the islands. 
Supposing we should not get over right ! ” 

“ Oh, there is no danger. You know they always 
have a pilot.” 

“ Well, I know ; but supposing anything should 


STEP BY STEP. 93 

happen. I wonder what time it is ? It would be dread- 
ful to get on the rocks in the night.” 

Agnes lit the electric light and looked at her watch. 
It wanted twenty minutes to one. ' 

Mrs. Chapman made another attempt to arouse Louise ; 
but was still unsuccessful. She fussed and fretted, and 
declared that even if they were going upon the rocks, she 
didn’t see why she couldn’t be let alone until the time 
came. 

Mrs. Chapman sighed, and wished she had not come ; 
she wished it were morning ; she wished she could see 
Herbert ; and Agnes had all she could do to persuade 
her not to ring and ask the steward to call him. She 
wished one of the officers would go by the door, so that 
she could ask him if they were in danger, and she 
wished so many things, that Agnes could not help wish- 
ing to herself that she would go to sleep, or at least let 
her ; but she fussed on. 

There, Cousin Lucy,” said Agnes, “ there is the pilot 
boat. I j ust saw it come along side. Now the pilot is 
aboard, and you will feel all right. He surely knows 
just where to go, and will take the helm himself, and 
steer us safely over the reefs.” 

Mrs. Chapman sighed, but subsided. 

As Agnes turned on her pillow to compose herself for 
sleep once more, she could but think of the Pilot to whom 
she had intrusted herself and who was with his own hand 


94 


STEP BY STEP. 


leading her safely over life’s tempestuous sea, and she 
fell asleep, saying over to herself the words of a hymn 
she had often sung : 

“ Jesus, Saviour, pilot me, 

Over life’s tempestuous sea ; 

Unknown waves before me roll, 

Hiding rock and treach’rous shoal ; 

Chart and compass come from thee : 

Jesus, Saviour, pilot me.” 

When Agnes awoke again it was day, and the sun was 
shining brightly. She glanced out of the port, and then 
uttered a long-drawn “ Oh ! ” The steamer had crossed 
the reefs and was following the sinuous channel. Islets 
crowned with green appeared and were passed ; the waters 
were intensely blue, with tints of emerald and violet. 

Neither Mrs Chapman nor Louise were awake, but as 
Agnes slid down from her berth they both opened their 
eyes, and in accordance with her request, took a look at 
the picture. It was enchanting! So even Mrs. Chap- 
man declared. 

They all dressed as quickly as possible and went on 
deck. Seasickness and all the other discomforts of the 
voyage were forgotten. How lovely everything was I 
The wind was strong, but soft and balmy as June. They 
were among the larger islands by this time, and the party 
hardly liked to leave the deck for breakfast. The meal 
was dispatched as quickly as possible, and they returned 
to their post of observation. Grassy Bay was passed. 


STEP BY STEP. 


95 


and they were just within the land-locked sound. Ham- 
ilton was not yet visible, the island of Bermuda being 
shaped like an irregular curve. The water was growing 
shallow, but lost none of its beauty. The maze of islands 
were slowly passed, their quiet beauty suggesting fitting 
haunts for rest and peace. Soon, to the left, appeared 
the town of Hamilton. It seemed to Agnes that her 
childhood dream of fairyland was realized. The distant 
hills were covered with trees, the vivid green of the wild 
orange blending with the more sombre hue of the cedars. 
The snow-white houses peeped from their surroundings 
of foliage, looking like pearls in settings of emeralds. 
Clamoring voices were soon heard, however, and with a 
sigh Agnes turned from the beauty of the scenery to 
ascertain the cause of the confusion. 

Numerous small boats had come to meet them, and 
hotel runners were already coming aboard. They be- 
seiged the passengers on all sides, and were very anxious 
to point out the places of interest. Mrs. Chapman had 
one stationed on each .side of her, although she declared 
to them both that she was not going to a hotel. They 
seemed to think it just possible that she did not know 
where she wished to go. 

“ That island there,” said one of them, pointing to a 
large island that the steamer was passing, “ is Ireland 
Island, one of the the largest of the group.” 

“ It contains an immense floating dry dock,” said the 


96 


STEP BY STEP. 


other, evidently taking the words from the mouth of the 
former. 

*‘It was floated here from England/’ interrupted 
speaker number one, “ at great expense to the English 
Government.” 

Speaker number two hereupon began to expatiate on 
the merits of his hotel, and when he stopped for breath, 
number one began. At last, after being assured for the 
fifth or sixth time that the party were going with neither 
one, they walked off in search of other victims. 

All this time the steamer had been slowly making her 
way along the serpentine channel — slowly, owing to the 
shallowness of the water and the number of turns to be 
made. The Hamilton Hotel was conspicuous from its 
site on the hill, and the Princess, down by the water, was 
the only building in sight that did not conform to the 
style ; instead of being white, it was painted. 

The steamer moved slowly up toward the wharf, which 
was crowded with people, but the water was so shallow 
that they ran aground two or three times before they 
succeeded in bringing the steamer into the desired 
position. Several rods from the wharf they stopped ; 
but how were the people to get ashore ? There was no 
pier. The mystery was soon solved. Ropes were thrown 
from the shore to the gangway, and by means of these, 
two very long logs were drawn across, so that one end 
of each log rested on the shore, the other on the steamer. 


STEP BY STEP. 


97 


in the place usually occupied by the gangplank. What 
was to be done now ? Numerous colored men commenced 
scrambling over these and lashing cross pieces from one 
to the other. 

The cross pieces being all lashed on, planks were laid 
the whole length, and thus a bridge from steamer to shore 
was constructed. The whole thing took about half an 
hour, and this was repeated every time the steamer came 
in. Every one, however, seemed glad to get ashore, even 
if it.were in a novel way. 

At length, Agnes and the Chapmans were seated in 
one of the many carriages in waiting, while the trunks, 
bearing the cross of the Custom House, were ordered to 
be sent up later. They drove rapidly through the nar- 
row streets, the horses’ hoofs sounding with a hollow 
ringing sound on the coral pavement. How foreign 
everything looked ! White and green were the prevail- 
ing colors, even the streets being of the former, as they 
were pure coral. The driver turned up a beautiful 
avenue, shaded by the cedar trees on either side, and 
stopped before one of the houses. It was two stories 
high, with an upper and lower veranda in front. The 
landlady was expecting them, and welcomed them cor- 
dially. The hall of the house was uncarpeted, as, indeed, 
were all the rooms. This seemed very strange at fir’st, 
and Louise was inclined to look with disfavor on the 

house for that reason ; but upon learning that this was 
G 


98 


STEP BY STEP. 


the common custom in Bermudian houses, and that even 
among the higher class rugs were substituted for carpets, 
she felt that, after all, it might be in keeping with the 
country. They ascended an easy flight of stairs and 
entered their rooms, which had glass doors opening on 
the veranda. 

“Well, Agnes,’’ said Mrs. Chapman, after the landlady 
had left them, “ how do you think you shall like Ber- 
muda?” 

“Oh, very much ! ” was the enthusiastic reply. 

“ I wish we were in the hotel,” said Louise. “ Just see 
what a view we must get from there.” 

“ I wish we were not,” replied her mother. “ I came 
here for rest, and I would not climb up all those steps to 
get to the hotel if any one would pay my board for me.” 

The remainder of the day passed quickly away. No 
one excepting Herbert cared to leave the house. 

When Agnes lay down that night, it was hard for her 
to realize where she really was. She looked round the 
room with its bare floor and white walls, which never- 
theless had a wonderfully pleasant and unique air, and 
thought she had rather be there than in the best hotel 
on the island. The window was open, and tlie sweet 
evening breeze came in, and it was indeed hard to realize 
that it was the first of March, and that at home the winds 
were probably howling round the house, and perhaps the 
enow flying. 


CHAPTER X. 


NEW SIGHTS. 

rriHE next day was bright and pleasant, and the 
travelers awoke feeling much refreshed. When 
breakfast was over, Agnes and Louise set out on an 
exploring expedition. It was as warm as June would 
have been at home, and the glare of the sun on the 
white houses and pavements made shade glasses quite 
needful. 

They walked down the avenue to the principal busi- 
ness street. The stores looked uninviting as far as the 
display in the windows went; but on entering, their 
goods were found to be really very nice. They walked 
along the street for some distance. There were stores 
one side, and a long wharf and the water on the other. 
Numerous little donkey carts were in the street ; indeed, 
donkeys seemed nearly as common as horses. They 
were hitched into small wagons, which were driven, as a 
general thing, by negro boys. Passing up and dowu 
the sidewalks were frequently seen soldiers, dressed in 
the British uniform; and with their bright red coats 
and silver trimmings they added picturesqueness to the 
scene. At last, having walked as far as they wished in 


100 


STEP BY STEP. 


that direction, the girls turned up a street at the left. 
This took them past some of the dvvelling houses, many 
of which were surrounded by gardens containing the 
loveliest of roses, English violets, geraniums, moon 
flowers, and lace plants. There were also banana trees 
growing in small groves. Before one of these the girls 
stopped and laughed. 

“ How very queer ! ” said Louise. 

“ Yes,” replied her cousin. “ You see that the bananas 
grow from that large purple flower on the end of the 
stalk ; they grow up until the weight of the fruit and 
flower bends them over and they hang toward the 
earth.” 

“ How homely the leaves are I so broad, and all 
stripped up by the wind and rain.” 

“There is something that is pretty, though. Cousin 
Louise. See those beautiful flowers in front of that dear 
little cottage ? ” 

They stood a moment to admire them, when the door 
of the house was opened, and a colored woman came 
out. She was dressed as neatly as possible, and wore a 
gay-colored turban round her head. Seeing the girls, 
she courtesied, and walked down the path toward the 
gate. 

“ Strangers here ? ” she queried. 

“ Yes,” said Agnes. “ We only came yesterday.” 

“ How you think you will like Burmudy ? ” 


STEP BY STEP. 


101 


“Very much. We were taking our first walk this 
morning, and as we passed here, stopped to admire your 
beautiful flowers.” 

“ Will missy have a nosegay ? ” 

“ Oh, thank you ; but we didn’t mean for you to pick 
them.” 

“ Glad to do it, though,” said the woman beginning to 
break off some of her handsomest roses. “ Always glad 
to give a nosegay to strangers. Do you lub flowers ? ” 

“ Yes ; I am very fond of them.” 

“ And you ? ” turning to Louise. 

“ Yes ; I like them too.” 

“ How long will you stay on de island ? ” 

“A number of weeks. We do not know exactly how 
long.” 

“Well, den; if missy will come ’round here in four 
or five weeks from now, I’ll have some shell flowers to 
gib them.” 

“ I never saw any shell flowers.” 

“ No, I reckon not. Well, ’twill be ’bout time for ’em 
to be out den.” 

While she had been talking, the woman had picked 
two handsome bouquets. And although they were not 
arranged in hothouse style, they were flowers that no hot- 
house would have bad any reason to be ashamed of. 
And, after all, who ever saw flowers arranged to look 
really bad ? 


102 


STEP BY STEP. 


She walked to the gate with them, and then bade 
them good-bye, courtesying as before. 

“ What a funny woman ! ” said Louise, when they were 
out of her hearing. 

“ She has fine flowers, though.’’ 

A few more turns, and the girls were back at their 
boarding place. Mrs. Chapman became enthusiastic 
over the flowers, and declared that the roses were hand- 
somer than those she had paid three and four dollars a 
dozen for in New York that very winter. 

After dinner the announcement was made that the 
military band was to play in Victoria Park that after- 
noon. As this was near by, they all decided to go over. 
The park was a lovely place, with borders of flowers 
around the outside. There was also plenty of grass, 
with walks crossing it at all angles, and a goodly num- 
ber of seats scattered here and there. 

The band had begun to play when they reached the 
place. They stood round there in a circle, all wearing 
the British uniform. It made a pretty picture in con- 
nection with the surroundings ; and they played admir- 
ably. When the piece was finished, some of them 
walked back and forth on the white walks, while others 
threw themselves down on the grass for a short in- 
terval, when they were called together again, and played 
another selection. The concert lasted for an hour or 
more, and ended, as did all their concerts, with “ God 


STEP BY STEP. 


loa 

save the queen.” Most of the people left the park as the 
concert finished. A few remained, however; among the 
latter were Herbert and Agnes. 

“Well, how do you like Bermuda?” asked Herbert. 

“ 1 think it is the loveliest place I ever was in.” 

“ It isn’t a bad place to spend a few weeks, that is 
certain. I hope you will not get homesick.” 

“ I think not. I miss papa, of course ; but I should 
miss him still more if I were at home.” 

“ There is considerable to be seen here, I am told, 
although the islands are small. To-morrow, if it is fine, 
mother said we could take a drive.” 

“ That will be pleasant. Do you know, Cousin Her- 
bert, how so many colored people happen to be here? 
I should think one-half the population must be com- 
posed of negroes.” 

“ They used to be slaves. They were liberated some- 
time ago, though.” 

“ There are really no aborigines belonging to the 
islands, are there ? ” 

“ No. They were settled first by the English. 
But ” 

“ They came to a very lovely spot.” 

“ But I am afraid you will get cold sitting here any 
longer, even if it is lovely.” So saying, he jumped up, 
and the two walked slowly back to the house. 

Soon after breakfast, the next morning, the party set 


104 


STEP BY STEP. 


out in one of those comfortable carriages which are so 
numerous in Bermuda. There was a gentle breeze blow- 
ing from the sea, but the sun was so warm as to render 
carriage shades quite indispensable. They drove along, 
the carriage seeming hardly to be dependent on the span 
of handsome horses that drew it, the roadway was so 
smooth and hard. 

The driver was well posted on all objects of interest, 
and seemed glad to impart his information to the party 
in the carriage. The names of trees and plants were 
asked and answered, as well as various questions on the 
history of the islands. On they drove, now passing 
fields of the onion, that plant for which Bermuda is so 
famous ; then through deep cuts in the road, where the 
coral limestone on either side rose far above the top of 
the carriage ; and again coming out by the shore, where 
beautiful sights of the water were to be obtained The 
colors were grand. Close up to the shore it was nearly 
white, with a tinge of the yellowish sand, changing as it 
receded into tints of blue, green, and violet. 

This was continued for several miles, until they came 
to a place by the roadside called Neptune’s grotto. 
Here the carriage stopped ; and on payment of one 
shilling each, they were admitted into the enclosure. 
Inside they found a natural well, containing a great 
number of fish. The man who admitted them allowed 
them to feed the fishes, who came up with their great 


STEP BY STEP. 


105 


mouths stretched to their utmost capacity, to receive the 
bits of bread thrown to them. In a smaller pool in the 
same enclosure were a quantity of angel fish. They 
looked very lovely swimming around and showing all 
the colors of the rainbow. The stay there was brief, as 
there was much that they wished to accomplish during 
the forenoon. 

On they drove, until the former residence of the 
famous poet, Thomas Moore, was reached. Here they 
again left the carriage. 

“I suppose they will expect two or three shillings 
here,” said Herbert, in a whisper to Agnes. “ You can- 
not turn round without paying for it.” 

They now entered the house of the poet, which, 
although altered in many respects since its occupancy 
by Moore, still had some of its originality left. 

“ When was Moore here ? ” inquired Mrs. Chapman. 

“ In 1803, ma’am,” said the guide. 

After exploring the house, they started to walk to the 
famous Walsingham caves, which were on the same 
estate. On their way, Moore’s calabash tree was passed, 
under which the poet is said to have sat when he wrote 
his famous “ Lalla Rookh.” 

Herbert and Agnes followed the guide closely, while 
Mrs. Chapman and Louise took it more leisurely. The 
walk was beautiful. They passed under the shade of 
lemon and orange trees, the guide gathering some of the 


106 


STEP BY STEP. 


leaves and fruit for them, although the latter were wild 
oranges and of no value for eating. This fruit had been 
cultivated to some extent on the islands, he said, but it 
was a thing of the past. 

The latter part of the walk was rather rough, but 
Agnes had good help from Herbert. He took her hand 
and assisted her over all the bad places, so that they 
reached the cave some moments before the others, 
although they waited for them to come up before enter- 
ing. The cave was quite a large one, containing a pool 
of water, which they .were informed was very deep, 
although, owing to the extreme clearness of the water, it 
looked to be but a few feet in depth. That it had some 
underground connection with the ocean was shown by the 
fact that the water rose and fell with the tide. The roof 
and sides of the cave were covered with stalactites, which 
had been marred by being broken off for visitors. 

The guide lighted a quantity of paper that he had 
brought with him for this purpose, to illuminate the 
place, but he only succeeded in giving it a still more 
weird appearance. 

“ How dreadful if one should slip and fall into that 
water ! said Louise, shuddering. 

Agnes involuntarily drew back, but Herbert kept a 
tight hold of her. They all breathed more freely, how- 
ever, when they were once more outside and had left the 
slippery rocks which surrounded the deep pool. 


STEP BY STEP. 


107 


There was another cave, so the guide told them, which 
was longer, but contained no water. They did not care 
to go into it, but walked back to the house, under the 
shade of the lemon, orange, and coffee trees. Seated 
once more in the carriage, they began to discuss the 
attractions of Bermuda. 

“ I am sure I do not see why Thomas Moore could not 
be contented in such a place as this,” said Agnes. 

“ Bermuda was too quiet for him,” replied Louise. 

“ All the better, I should think.” 

“ He evidently did not.” 

‘‘ There is the governor’s residence,” said the driver, 
pointing to a house that was set back from the road, sur- 
rounded by handsome grounds. “ Shall we drive in ? ” 

Being answered in the affirmative, he turned the horses 
in at the gate and drove slowly up the spacious driveway. 
The shrubs and flowers here were very fine, many of 
them being imported from still warmer countries. The 
tree called “monkey’s puzzle,” from its trunk being 
covered with thorns that projected in every direction, 
was quite common here. 

Out on the public roadway once more, the horses made 
good time, and they reached home just as the other 
boarders were sitting down to dinner. 

That afternoon they decided to rest. So with fancy- 
work and books they went out on the veranda. There 


108 


STEP BY STEP. 


-was considerable to be seen from there ; they were able 
to look up and down the avenue over to the Park, and 
also to obtain a good view of Hamilton Hotel on its 
elevated site. Carriages and pedestrians passed the house 
continually, varied occasionally by a donkey cart or some 
one on horseback. 

‘‘ Did you see those lovely red birds this morning when 
we were walking to the cave ? ” asked Agnes 

“ No,” said Louise. “ Where were they ? ” 

“Right in that clump of lemon trees, just before we 
reached the cave. They were beautiful.” 

“ What were they ? ” 

“ Cedar birds, so the guide said. They are quite com- 
mon in the woods, and he said they even came in the 
trees that surround the houses. The birds here have 
handsome plumage, but do not amount to much as song- 
sters.” 

“ Like a good many people in that respect,” said Her- 
bert — “ all outside show ; don’t amount to anything else. 
You will find plenty of them in the hotel yonder, I’ll be 
bound.” 

“ I wish I were there myself, anyhow,” declared Louise. 
“ There is ever so much style there.” 

“ Hang style ! I say give me comfort. I am sure I 
am well suited where I am. You are always dissatisfied.’^ 

Louise only replied by a toss of her head as she 
resumed her reading. 


CHAPTER XI. 


A BURDEN ON AGNES. 

A ONES and Louise were not very much together. 

There seemed to be nothing in common between 
them ; so, although they always got along comparatively 
well, there was nothing to draw the one to the other. 
Neither were there any other young ladies among the 
few boarders at the house. So it came about that Agnes 
saw Herbert constantly. He seemed to like to be with 
her, and she found him much more companionable than 
his sister. As Agnes saw more and more of him, she 
became very anxious for him to become a Christian. 

The first she ever thought about it in particular was 
one day when she was sitting alone with him in the 
parlor. He was certainly attractive in both looks and 
manners, and she knew him to be talented as well. He 
was also earnest about whatever interested him, and the 
thought came to her — “ If he were only a Christian, what 
a power he might be for good ! ” Then she wondered if 
he had ever thought of the matter. Had any one ever 
talked earnestly to him about his soul’s welfare ! Some- 
how she thought it very doubtful. It came upon her like 

a great burden, the wish that he were a Christian. She 

109 


no 


STEP BY STEP. 


believed this wish to be God-given, and therefore would 
not try to check it. Had not the Lord given her a work 
to do in this direction ? It was not an easy thing for her 
to undertake. She feared he would not understand her 
at all. She knew what his surroundings had been ; yet 
she could but try. She remembered her experience with 
Jane some years before, and would not let the impression 
pass unheeded. She did not know what to say, or how 
or when to say it, but she believed the Lord would make 
it plain. So she watched, prayed, and waited. She 
prayed more earnestly than she ever remembered to have 
prayed for any one before. 

It was one Sunday when they had been in Bermuda 
but a short time. Tea was just over, and the boarders 
strolled into the parlor or out upon the veranda. Her- 
bert and Agnes were among the latter. 

“ Would you go to church with me this evening. Cousin 
Herbert ? ” asked Agnes. 

“ Well, I don’t know ; I am not in the habit of attend- 
ing church very often, but if you desire company, I will 
go with you.” 

“Thank you. I should like company very much.” 

So it was, that about half an hour later, Agnes came 
down to the parlor and found Herbert in readiness to 
accompany her. 

“Are you going to walk?” asked Mrs. Chapman, look- 
ing up from her book. 


STEP BY STEP. 


Ill 


“ Going to walk to church I ” said Herbert, signifi- 
cantly. 

“ Good land ! You have not been to church before for 
a year, I’ll wager ! ” 

“ I’m going now, though.” And with this the two left 
the room. 

It was warm and pleasant out of doors. The twilight 
was beginning to deepen, although darkness had not yet 
settled down on the landscape. Agnes was rather a silent 
companion during the walk to church, but her thoughts 
were active in the mean time. 

“You have not been to church before for a year!” 
How the words rang in her ears ! A year had passed 
since the cousin she was becoming so attached to had 
entered the doors of a church to attend service, and, 
indeed, she doubted his ever having attended much. 
How she lifted up her heart in prayer that this evening 
something might be said or done that should make an 
impression for good on the apparently thoughtless young 
man. 

The bell that had been sounding its peal of invitation 
since they left the house stopped its ringing just as they 
entered the church. The usher seated them pretty well 
forward. Agnes did not know whether Herbert would 
like that or not, but however he felt, he raised no objec- 
tions. 

In a short time the minister rose and gave out a hymn ; 


112 


STEP BY STEP. 


then followed prayer, reading of the Scripture, and 
another hymn, and then he announced his text. It was 
but one sentence, containing a few words, but there was 
a world of meaning expressed in them. It was the ques- 
tion asked by Pilate, in the twenty-second verse of the 
twenty-seventh chapter of Matthew, “ What shall I do 
then with Jesus which is called Christ ? 

Agnes listened attentively to every word of the ser- 
mon ; but the listening was principally for another. 
How would it impress Herbert? How would he take 
this and that truth ? Whether he liked or disliked what 
was said, his planner betrayed nothing. He was respect- 
ful and attentive; that was all. Whether the truth 
made any impression on him or not, Agnes could not 
determine. 

“My friends,^’ the minister said, after repeating his 
text for the second time, “ this was the question asked by 
Pilate of the Jews more than eighteen hundred years 
ago. Possibly you may think it has nothing to do with 
people of this enlightened nineteenth century. We will 
consider that later. 

“ The Jews, being unable by their own authority to 
put an offender to death, brought the much-abused, long- 
suffering Saviour to Pilate, clamoring that as he had the 
power, he should make way with him. Pilate, reluctant to 
comply with their request, because according to his own 
testimony he found no fault in him, offered to release 


STEP BY STEP. 


113 


unto them a prisoner, Barabbas or Jesus. You all know 
whom they chose ; and it was then that Pilate asked this 
question, ‘ What then shall I do with Jesus f ^ And it 
was then that the people, mad with rage, cried out, ‘ Let 
him be crucified ! ’ 

“ You think it was a very cruel thing in them to do. 
You think, had you been there how difiTerently you would 
have done. Well, my dear unsaved friend, the same 
question is asked of you. What will you do with Jesus? 

“ Do you think to escape the responsibility of deciding 
the question by simply ignoring it? If you are doing 
that, you are answering it just as much as those Jews did 
who cried out, ‘ Let him be crucified ! ’ Is it not in fact 
more contemptible to ignore a person, to say by silence, 
‘ I will have nothing whatever to do with you,’ than to 
say so by words ? 

“ Every one must answer the question for himself or 
herself in some way. What will I do with Jesus? Will 
I let him into my heart to reign there as King of kings ? 
Will I let him bring me peace and comfort, and by-and-by 
give me a home in glory ; or will I have nothing to do 
with him ? ” 

Thus he continued for some little time. Agnes did not 
see how any one who was not a Christian could help 
being touched. 

The sermon closed, they sang another hymn, and then 

the minister announced a short prayer meeting to be held 
H 


114 


STEP BY STEP. 


directly after. He hoped that all who possibly could 
would stay. 

What should Agnes do? Would it be wisdom to ask 
her cousin to stay to a prayer meeting ? She hesitated ; 
the people who would not stay were already going out. 
She turned round and looked at him ; something seemed 
to give her courage. 

“ Cousin Herbert/’ she said, “ would you mind staying 
to the prayer meeting with me? It will only last half 
an hour ; and I am very anxious to stop. I have not 
been to a prayer meeting since I left home.” 

“ I will stay with you if you wish it,” he said, seating 
himself again. 

“ Thank you very much. You do not mind, do you?” 

“No.” 

In a moment the people were singing “There is a 
fountain filled with blood.” Then the minister ofiered 
prayer — a prayer that seemed to come from the very 
depths of his heart, and melt the whole audience. There 
were a few remarks after this, but they were very brief. 
Then the meeting was opened to any one. 

There was one of the soldiers from the barracks who 
spoke. His words were earnest and to the point. Then 
an old colored woman rose with tears streaming from her 
eyes, and told what the Lord had done for her, and 
begged, if there were any unsaved souls in the house, 
that they would come and give their hearts to the 


STEP BY STEP. 


115 


Saviour. She was very much in earnest, and empha- 
sized what she said by clapping her hands together. 
Agnes did not know what Herbert would think of this. 
She looked at him, but was still unable to draw any in- 
ference as to his feelings. There were some other testi- 
monies, among which were a few words from another 
colored woman, whom Agnes recognized as the friend 
who had given her the flowers. Then the minister rose, 
and in a few words that were eloquent with earnestness, 
urged any one who might be within sound of his voice, 
who had not said, “ I will take Christ as my Saviour,” to 
do so at once. They did not know how long the Spirit 
would strive with them. They did not know but that 
very night they might be called to appear before their 
Maker, to render an account of the deeds done in the 
body. Then he related an incident that he knew to be 
true. 

“ It was some years ago,” he said, “ and there were re- 
vival meetings held in a little country schoolhouse of a 
certain village. The young people, and even the boys 
and girls, of the place attended. Among the number 
were three young lads, who were schoolmates and friends, 
who went night after night. They sat side by side ; all 
became interested, and all rose for prayers ; not once, but 
again and again. One was converted. The other two 
decided to postpone the matter. One of these lived to 
grow up and become a drunkard and an immoral man. 


116 


STEP BY STEP. 


The third moved from the village. A few years later, 
and this young man lay tossing upon a bed of sickness 
and pain. The physician had told him that he could not 
recover, and great was his distress ; yet it was not of 
body, but of mind. In vain his friends tried to lead him 
to Jesus. In vain they tried to point him to the Saviour 
of the world, that Jesus might become his Saviour. To 
all their entreaties he could only cry out, ‘ Too late, too 
late ! I might have been saved once. In those meetings 
in the little county schoolhouse I knew by duty, and re- 
fused to do it. It is no use now ! ’ 

“ His friends pleaded with him ; but in vain. ‘ I tell 
you it is no use,’ he cried, ‘ it is too late! But I want you 
to go back and tell all my friends and acquaintances my 
experience, and urge them to be wise.’ And so, amid 
dreadful darkness, his life went out. 

“ My dear unsaved friends, beware of sinning away the 
day of grace. Now we will sing a hymn, and while we 
sing, if there is one here who has a desire to become a 
Christian, will you not rise, and we will pray for you.” 

There was a moment’s silence, then some one started 
the hymn : 

“Why do you wait, dear brother? 

Oh, why do you tarry so long ? 

Your Saviour is waiting to give you 
A place in his sanctified throng.” 

Did Herbert start ? Agnes could not tell. She fan- 


STEP BY STEP. 


117 


cied that he moved uneasily ; but it might have been 
only fancy. No one rose ; and when the hymn was fin- 
ished, the minister spoke once more. 

“ No one has risen,” he said. “ Yet I am confident that 
there are those here who should have done so — who would 
have done so ; but they lacked the courage. They have 
not asked us to pray for them ; but let us do so, never- 
theless. Let us each, all who are Christians, take some 
one on our hearts, and pray earnestly for that one. Will 
Brother Case lead in prayer ? ” 

Agnes bowed her head and prayed. She heard but 
little of the prayer Brother Case offered. She had a 
burden herself. Siie prayed as she had but seldom prayed 
before ; and was not aware the speaker had finished until 
the people rose to sing. It was a simple air that they 
sang, but it nearly melted her to tears ; and it was with 
difficulty that she maintained any degree of composure. 

The singing ended, and the people left the church. 
Agnes felt as though she could not speak. So they walked 
along a few moments in silence, broken at length by 
Herbert, who asked : 

“ What did that minister mean, anyway ? ” 

‘‘ Mean ? What about ? ” said Agnes. 

“ Why, when he asked any one to rise while the people 
sang.” 

“ He meant that if there were any there who wished 
to be Christians, and desired the prayers of Christians, 


118 


STEP BY STEP. 


they should manifest it by rising, They often give that 
invitation at the close of a meeting. Did you never hear 
it before ? ” 

“ I don’t know that I ever attended a prayer-meeting 
before.” 

Agnes’ heart sank. She really feared it would be alto- 
gether useless to say anything to him. Yet she must do 
her part. 

“ Cousin Herbert,” she said, and her voice trembled 
with earnestness, “ I have thought sometimes that you 
might look upon religion as a gloomy thing ; knowing 
that Christians are not expected to be of the world. But 
I want to say, from my own experience, that the Lord 
Jesus Christ far more than compensates for all I have 
ever given up for him. I never knew the meaning of 
real, true happiness until I found it in him. I wanted 
you to know that, although I did not think some things 
right for a Christian to indulge in, yet I am very happy.” 

‘ I never doubted it,” said Herbert, in a low tone. 

“ I wish that every one were as happy.” Then, after a 
moment’s pause : “ Oh, Cousin Herbert, I do wish you 
were as happy! Would you not like to be not only 
happy, but safe f ” 

He made no reply, save to draw her hand a little 
further through his arm. And a few more steps brought 
them to the gate. 

He accompanied Agnes to the head of the stairs, and 


STEP BY STEP. 


119 


detained her there a moment with her hand still on his 
arm. Then, looking into her face, he said : 

“I always admired your religious principles, Agnes, 
from the time I knew you at the Springs. I believe you 
are a Christian, if ever there were one ; and if I ever 
do make any professions, I hope I may be as sincere as 
you. Good-night.” 

With that he left her. She found her way to her 
room, paused a moment before the door, entered, and 
closed the door behind her. Then she threw herself on 
her knees, and poured out her prayers and her tears to- 
gether. The burden of the former was : “ O Lord, show 
him the way, and make him willing to walk in it.” 


CHAPTER XIL 


OLD ACQUAINTANCES. 

A gnes was sitting in her room one day, when there 
came a quick rap at the door She rose and 
opened it, and in walked Louise. She Was evidently 
excited about something, for she did not take the seat that 
was offered her ; but stood still in the centre ot the floor. 

“ Well,” she said, as soon as Agnes had seated herself, 
“ who do you suppose is at the Hamilton ? ” 

“ I am sure I do not know. Some friend of yours ? ” 
“No other than Miss Van Alsten. I am delighted.” 
Agnes’ face showed no particular delight. 

“ It was by the merest chance,” continued her cousin, 
“ that I found out about it. I was down street this morn- 
ing, on a little shopping expedition, when who should 
walk into the store but Florence Van Alsten and her 
mother. She was pleased to see me, and I, of course, was 
equally glad to see her. You don’t look very much 
pleased about it, though, it seems to me.” 

“You forget that Miss Van Alsten was never an inti- 
mate friend of mine. I had but a slight acquaintance 
with her. You would be glad to see her, of course, 

knowing her as well as you did.” 

120 


STEP BY STEP. 


121 


“ She was dressed in a very stylish mode. I do think 
all the Van Alstons are so stylish. Florence asked me 
to call on her. She did not want me to wait for cere- 
mony, but invited me to come this afternoon ; and I want 
you to go with me. I can’t bear to go up to a strange 
hotel alone.” 

“ Thank you ; but I think I would rather not. Our 
acquaintance is so slight, I think she would hardly ex- 
pect me to call.” 

“ I want you to go, though. Now do not be disobliging, 
Agues. I can’t bear to go up there alone. Do say ‘ yes,’ 
won’t you ? ” 

“ Well, I suppose I can go, to accommodate you ; 
although I should prefer to be excused,” said Agnes, 
reluctantly. 

“ That’s right. We will start by half-past three. 
And, Agnes,” — putting her head inside the door again, 
after she had stepped into the entry, — “ I do hope you 
will dress up nicely. The Van Alstens think so much of 
dress, you know.” 

Agnes’ cheeks flamed, but she said nothing. She was 
tempted again and again to tell her cousin she would not 
go, after all ; but half-past three found her in readiness. 
She dreaded the call very much ; for she could not forget 
her experience at the Springs. And somehow she felt 
that the young lady she was going to see would not be 
overjoyed at meeting her again. 


122 


STEP BY STEP. 


They mounted the steps that led up to the Hamilton, 
and without much difficulty succeeded in finding their 
way into the reception room. They rang the bell, and 
a colored waiter soon made his appearance, who, on 
learning their errand, bowed low, received their cards on 
a silver tray, and departed. He soon returned, however, 
to say that Miss Van Alston would be down to see the 
ladies presently. In the mean time, Agnes looked 
around. The view from the windows was very fine ; but 
that was the only recommendation the hotel had to her. 
The furnishings, indeed, were faultless ; but her experi- 
ence as a child came over her to such an extent, that she 
almost wished herself safely outside again. 

The surroundings seemed to have an entirely different 
effect on Louise. She became enthusiastic as she looked 
at them, and declared that it was really too bad her 
mother would not consent to stay there ; the style was so 
elegant, and everybody who pretended to be anything 
stayed here. 

Her talk was cut short at this juncture by the 
entrance of Miss Van Alston. She was delighted to see 
Miss Chapman, but greeted Agnes somewhat coolly. 
She bowed stiffly, and gave her the tips of her fingers, 
then settled herself in an easy chair. From that time 
until they left, her conversation was directed almost 
entirely to Louise. Indeed, she scarcely spoke to her 
other visitor, except to inquire how Miss Rice enjoyed 


STEP BY STEP. 


123 


her present boarding place. And Agnes could not help 
feeling a slight touch of sarcasm in the way it was asked. 

To Louise, she expatiated on the merits of the hotel. 
The hops were something fine ; really better than those 
they had at the Springs. Then she gave an account of 
the distinguished guests, and of one of the governor’s 
receptions she had attended. 

While she had been talking, Agnes had been taking 
a general survey of her. Her dress was of some light 
stuff, made in the most approved style. She wore six or 
eight bangles on each arm ; a number of finger rings, 
with which she played almost constantly while talking ; 
a large bunch of ornaments on a rather showy watch- 
chain; and a silver dagger, set with rubies, thrust 
through her collar. Then her hair was braided, puffed, 
and curled, and held in place by another, a larger, silver 
dagger. 

The conversation not being particularly edifying, 
Agnes was not sorry when Louise rose to go. Once 
outside, she again commenced to talk about the desir- 
ableness of being at the hotel; but Agnes, only too 
thankful to be where they were, paid but little heed to 
her talk. 

On reaching home, Herbert accosted them, and in- 
quired if they had been to see that stuck-up Miss Van 
Alsten. Louise, not in an altogether good mood before, 
grew angry, and made some unpleasant retorts ; but he 


124 


STEP BY STEP. 


declared that the aforesaid Miss Van Alsten was just as 
disagreeable as need be, even if her father was worth 
millions ; and he did not see how his sister could endure 
her. Agnes listened to the discussion for a few moments, 
and then retreated to her own room. 

A few days after this, Herbert and Agnes were out in 
the park enjoying another band concert. It was nearly 
through, and a few of the people had already taken their 
departure. The two cousins were walking up and down 
one of the board paths, when a gentleman passed them. 
Agrnes gave a quick start, and turned to look after him. 
He had passed them, but stopped and retraced his steps. 
For a moment Agnes was uncertain whether she knew 
him or not ; then all doubt vanished as he smiled and 
lifted his hat. She took the hand he offered her, and 
exclaimed : 

“ Why, Mr. Leighton ! ” 

“Miss Rice, this is an unexpected pleasure,” he 
said. 

Agnes hardly knew what to say; so she introduced 
Herbert. 

“ Mr. Leighton, allow me to make you acquainted 
with my cousin, Mr. Chapman.” 

Mr. Leighton bowed graciously, and shook hands. 
Herbert, for some reason, did not seem much pleased at 
the meeting. He was reserved, and, as Agnes thought, 
almost cold. 


STEP BY STEP. 


125 


“ May I ask where you are stopping,’’ said the new« 
comer, presently. 

“ J ust over yonder. I should be pleased to have you 
call.” 

‘‘Thank you. If you will do me the favor to give 
me the name of the house, I shall be pleased to 
do so.” 

She told him, and he wrote it on the back of a card. 
A few words more, and he left them. 

Agnes looked at Herbert, a thing she had not ven- 
tured to do since the introduction. There was an 
omnious frown visible on his face. A moment’s silence, 
and then he asked : 

“ Who was that fellow ? ” 

“ A gentleman whom I met at a party a few months 
ago.” 

“ Have you never seen him but that once ? ” 

“No.” 

“ Good land, Agnes ! Don’t you know any better than 
to speak to him, then ? You have no means of knowing 
what he is. He may be a perfect scamp. I am afraid 
you are altogether too credulous.” 

“ Cousin Herbert,” said she, stopping and laying her 
hand an his arm, “you are mistaken. I know this 
much ; he is a servant of the Lord Jesus.” 

Herbert muttered something nearly unintelligible, and 
finally said : 


126 


STEP BY STEP. 


“ You need not have introduced me as your cousin, 
anyway. What possessed you, Agnes ? 

“ I am very sorry if I offended you,’’ said she. “ I 
did not know you were ashamed of the relationship. I 
will be more careful in the future.” 

“You know it is not that,” he burst forth. “You 
know I am proud of you, Agnes ; more proud of you by 
far than of my own sister. But why need you advertise 
to every one our relationship? Let them think what 
they like. Besides, we are not own cousins. It is only 
your father and my mother who are cousins.” 

“I know it,” said Agnes, opening her eyes in surprise; 
“ but you always call me ‘ cousin,’ and I had no idea you 
objected to my calling you that.” 

“ I know it too ; but let that be a thing of the past, 
won't you? Call me Herbert, now.” 

“I will try and please you, certainly.” 

“ I suppose now, that fellow will be hanging round 
the house, and you will want no more of me. I had 
made up my mind to go to meeting whenever you went, 
but probably you won’t want me now.” And there was a 
little shade of bitterness in his tone. 

“Herbert, you know better,” said Agnes. “You know 
I had rather have you to go to meeting with me than any 
one else I know of. I shall want you company just as 
much as ever. I think a great deal of you, Herbert.” 

He brightened up somewhat at this, saying : 


STEP BY STEP. 


127 


“I am glad to hear that. I did not know that you 
would want much more of me if you had him.’’ 

While they had been talking they had left the park, 
and strolled down the street away from their boarding 
place. They had paid no special heed as to where they 
were going, only walking to keep company with their 
talk. They now found themselves in a lane, shaded by 
oleander bushes. The tall shrubs grew on either side, 
and were just blossoming out into fragrance and beauty. 

“ How lovely ! ” said Agnes. 

Herbert reached up and broke off a spray of the 
blossoms for her. 

“ Just think,” she said, “ how hard the people at home 
work to raise one puny little bush of this, and see how 
large and how freely they grow here. The people do 
not seem to think much of them, either.” 

“That is the way with a good many things,” said her 
companion, “ what some prize more than all else, others 
do not value at all. But come, we must go home now. 
It is very nearly tea time.” 

So the two retraced their steps in much less time than 
it took them to come, and with much less conversation. 


CHAPTER XIIL 


A CONFESSION. 


HE days slipped rapidly by, until another Sunday 



had arrived. Herbert, good as his word, accom- 
panied Agnes to church, both forenoon and evening. 
This sudden disposition on his part to attend divine 
service occasioned some remark on the part of his mother 
aod sister. As he was going to the evening meeting, 
Louise questioned him in regard to his destination, and 
on being informed that he was bound for church, burst 
into a laugh. 

‘‘For pity’s sake, Herbert!” she said, “what has come 
over you ? I never knew you to go to church twice a day 
before ; indeed, you rarely go once. I really believe you 
must be getting religious. He must have caught it from 
you, Agnes ; although I never knew before that it was 
contagious.” 

Herbert’s eye flashed, and he had a retort ready for 
his sister, but a look from Agnes silenced him. They 
passed out, and Herbert said, in a confidential tone, to 
Agnes, that he did not think a little religion would hurt 
Louise. 

The meeting was about the same as the previous week. 


STEP BY STEP. 


129 


Somehow Agnes felt no hesitancy this time in asking her 
cousin to stay to the prayer meeting, and he certainly 
seemed willing. 

When the services were ended, and they were out in 
the street once more, Herbert proposed a walk. He did 
not feel like going directly home, so they took a more 
circuitous way. They had been but a few steps, when it 
became apparent to Agnes that her companion had some- 
thing on his mind. He seemed uneasy, and once or twice 
was on the point of speaking, but hesitated. Finally, he 
exclaimed : 

“ I want to tell you something, Agnes, that has been 
troubling me for the past week.” 

Then he stopped, as though at a loss just how to pro- 
ceed. Agnes waited patiently, merely saying : 

“ I shall be very glad to help you, if I can.” 

“Well, it’s just this,” said he, at length, “I have been 
thinking of what the minister said last Sunday night, and 
of what you said also ; and I have come to the conclusion 
that I am not in a very safe position. The fact is, 
Agnes, I am not ready to die. Not that I am sick or 
have any special premonition of such a thing ; but, of 
course, none of us can tell when it will come ; and you 
see,” clearing his throat, “ I should like to feel that I 
was ready whenever it was.” 

Agnes’ heart was almost too full for utterance. 

There was a great lump in her throat, and when at 

I 


130 


STEP BY STEP. 


last she did answer him, it was with no very steady 
voice. 

“ I am very glad to hear you say that, Herbert. Very 
glad you feel your need, I mean. I have longed very 
much for you to become a Christian.” 

“ I knew you were anxious, and I only wish I could 
feel as secure as you seem to be. I don't know how it 
happened to come over me so all at once. I never used 
to trouble myself much about such things, although I 
will say that your life at the Springs did set me to 
thinking a little. I saw you were different from every 
one else round there ; but I soon forgot about it, until I 
saw you again. As I said before, I don’t know what 
makes me feel so, but it seems to me I can never cross 
the water to go home until the question is settled.” 

“ Oh, Herbert,” said his cousin, fairly breaking down, 
this time, “ I have prayed so earnestly for this ; now I 
know the Lord has answered my prayer. I believe if 
you feel like that, you will keep on seeking until you 
find.” 

“Wouldn’t mother and Louise be surprised if I were 
Ho become religious,’ as they call it? I don’t care, 
though; this is more important than what they will 
think or say.” 

Agnes felt a secret dread of having them know. She 
wondered if Herbert would stand up under their ridicule. 
Then she remembered that whenever he set himself to 


STEP BY STEP. 


131 


accomplish a thing he generally did it ; and more than 
that, he was not to enter the contest alone. 

“ There is one thing,” said he, presently, “ that I am 
afraid I could never do, and that is to stand up in meet- 
ing and ask them to pray for me.” 

“Then do you know that is just what you will 
have to do ? Not that the mere act of rising there is 
necessary to salvation, but that is the point where your 
will has taken a stand. You say, ‘ I can do everything 
but that.’ The Lord demands an entire surrender of 
your will to him — a willingness to do everything that he 
commands.” 

“ Then you think I shall have to do it before I can ever 
be a Christian ? ” 

“ I think if you have made up your mind that you 
are unwilling to do it, you will never find peace until 
you submit. No one can have perfect peace with a 
knowledge of something between him and the Lord, 
however slight that something may be.” 

“ It is hard for me to give up a point. Mother always 
said that I had an adamantine will.” 

“The Lord can subdue it, if you are willing he 
should.” 

“Am I not willing?” 

“ I am almost afraid you are not.” 

Silence again for a moment. Then the young man 
said ; 


132 


STEP BY STEP. 


** What can make me willing? ” 

‘‘The grace of God.” The answer was low and sweet; 
but it stung him like an arrow. He seemed to see how 
far above him his cousin was. She stood on a lofty 
plain, he on a very low one. 

“ I wish I was not so stubborn,” he said, at length. 

“If you really wish so, the Lord will help you to 
overcome it. The trouble with a great many people is, 
they are not really in earnest. I believe an unknown 
number of souls have been lost just for that reason. 
They are perfectly willing the Lord should save them, 
so they think, and imagine that is sufficient, instead of 
being desperately in earnest about it. The Lord says, 
‘ Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for 
me with all your heart’ ” 

“ And so you think I am not in earnest? ” 

“I did not say that. I sincerely hope you are. Oh, 
I do hope you are ! ” And the voice was unsteady again. 

“ And you think the Lord would make me willing to 
rise in meeting, if I really desired him to do so ? ” 

“Ido.” 

“ Will you pray for me, Agnes ? I am afraid I do 
not know how myself.” 

“ I have. I have prayed for you very often, Herbert ; 
and the Lord has answered my prayers thus far by send- 
ing his Holy Spirit to your heart. Oh, do not grieve 
him, will you ? ” 


STEP BY STEP, 


133 


** I trust not.” 

They had reached the gate by this time. As they 
entered the house, Herbert stepped to the parlor door. 
The lights were burning, but no one was there. He 
looked at Agnes, hesitated, and finally said : 

“ Would you be willing to come in here and pray with 
me, Agnes ? ” 

The question was entirely unexpected. She seemed 
for a moment to be rooted to the spot. Could she com- 
ply with his request ? 

It was only for a moment, and then she entered the 
room with him, and going to the sofa, knelt down by it, 
and poured out her heart in prayer that the Lord would 
lead her cousin, and make him willing to be led. When 
they rose, they were both in tears. There was no more 
conversation that night ; but for some minutes Herbert 
stood there, with her hand in his, struggling for com- 
posure. Then with a simple “ good-night,” they parted. 

The prayer offered in the parlor was only the begin- 
ning of the petitions that Agnes sent up to the throne 
of grace that night. Whether Herbert prayed for 
himself or not, she did not know ; but she had faith to 
believe that he did. 


CHAPTER XIV. 


OTHER DAYS. 

rnSE next day was bright and fair, and Mrs. Chapman 
concluded that it would be a good day to visit the 
reefs. So after breakfast they all went down to the wharf, 
where a row boat was chartered, and with a good-natured 
colored boy to row them, they set out. 

There was something delightfully strange in being out 
on the water in March, and the weather so warm that a 
parasol was indispensable, and wraps were discarded for 
a good part of the way. 

After they had gone several miles, their conductor 
produced a water glass. This was pressed down on the 
surface of the water to quiet the ripples, and then the 
wonders of the deep were seen. An exclamation burst 
from the lips of all : 

“Oh, how beautiful! How wonderful! Wbo ever 
imagined anything so pretty!” 

It was certainly charming, and to one who bad never 
seen anything of the kind before, extremely surprising. 
The seaweeds, mosses, shells, searods and urchins, and the 
coral, were all to be plainly seen, and with grappling 

irons many of the wonders were brought up for inspec- 
134 


STEP BY STEP. 


135 


tion. They were out all the forenoon, only reaching 
home in time for dinner. The sun had been warm, and 
the glare on the water trying, and Agnes found herself 
obliged to go to bed with a headache. It was quite 
severe, and for an hour or two she lay there with her 
temples throbbing. Mrs. Chapman came in and bathed 
her forehead, and finally she fell into a doze. How long 
she slept she did not know. She was awakened by a rap 
at the door. Jumping up and opening it, she found the 
servant with a card in her hand. She glanced at it. 
The inscription was — “ Robert E. Leighton.” 

Tell the gentleman I will be down presently,” she 
said. And closing the door hastened to make her toilet. 
Her head was better, but it had left her pale and with a 
feeling of languor. She was not long in dressing, how- 
ever, being one of those women who can dress quickly, 
and very acceptably too. So in a remarkably short space 
of time she entered the parlor. Mr. Leighton rose and 
advanced to meet her. 

“You do not look well. Miss Rice,” he said, placing a 
chair for her. 

“ I have been sufiering with a severe headache, but am 
much better now.” 

“You have been sight seeing too much, I fear.” 

“ I was out on the water this forenoon, and the heat 
and glare from the sun were intense.” 

“ I should judge they might be. You must be careful 


136 


STEP BY STEP. 


how you expose yourself. This is quite an unexpected 
pleasure that I have of calling on you way down here. 
How long since you came, may I ask ? ” 

“We have been here several weeks. I was equally 
surprised to find you here.” 

“I presume so. I am almost surprised myself. I 
came quite unexpectedly, partly on business and partly 
for my health. I have been quite ill since I saw you at 
your own home.” 

“I am sorry to hear that. Has this mild climate 
helped you ? ” 

“ Greatly. Even in the short time I have been here I 
can see a marked improvement. I was nearly well when 
I came, but my physician thought a change would be 
beneficial, and as I could accomplish a little something 
here in the line of business too, I decided to come to 
Bermuda.” 

“ I trust you are not disappointed in the place.” 

“ Happily so — that is all.” 

“ I had no idea myself of the beauty of the islands 
until I came here. It seems almost like fairyland.” 

“You are with friends, I believe?” 

“ Yes, with cousins.” 

There was a little hesitancy as she uttered the last part 
of the sentence. What Herbert had said flashed across 
her mind, but she knew no reason why she should not 
answer a plain question. 


STEP BY STEP. 


137 


I believe the young gentleman you introduced me to 
in the Park is your cousin ? ” 

“ He is — that is, his mother and my father are cousins.” 

“ I see. There is a great deal of character in his face.” 

“He has a strong character, Mr. Leighton. I only 
hope he may use it in the right direction.” 

“Is he a Christian?” 

“ He is not at the present, but I trust he may be. He 
has lately become interested.” 

“ That is good news.” 

“I wish you would remember him in your prayers. 
He has a strong will to overcome, and I fear will meet 
with much opposition.” 

“ I shall most certainly bear your request in mind.” 

“Shall you be in Bermuda long?” 

“ Probably for several weeks more. I cannot say defi- 
nitely how many. Have you been up to Prospect yet, to 
see the soldiers drill ? ” 

“No, sir; I did not know about it. Do they drill 
often?” 

“Every week, so I am told. Would you like to go?” 

“Very much. I am very fond of any military dis- 
play.” 

“ Then may I count on the pleasure of your company 
day after to-morrow ? ” 

“ Thank you. I should be pleased to go.” 

Agnes had a certain feeling that Herbert would be 


138 


STEP BY STEP. 


anything but pleased to have her go, though why he 
should object she did not know. 

A few more remarks and the visitor rose to go, saying: 

“ Then I will call for you with a carriage at half-past 
ten day after to-morrow.” 

She thanked him again ; he shook hands cordially and 
departed. 

Herbert did not see his cousin until the family assem- 
bled at the tea table, when unfortunately, as Agnes 
thought, Louise informed him that he had better look 
out for his cousin, as there had been a gentleman at the 
house that afternoon to see her. Herbert merely replied 
that he did not know as it was anything that concerned 
him, while Agnes heartily wished Louise would keep 
quiet. 

“ Oh, I did not know as you would allow her to receive 
attention from any one, that was all,” said his sister. 

“ I presume Agnes can manage her own affairs without 
outside help,” he replied, with considerable dignity. 

Louise and her mother exchanged significant glances, 
which Agnes did not at all understand. Herbert made 
no more conversation during the meal. 

As Agnes strolled out into the veranda after supper, 
she found Herbert there before her. 

“ Will you take a walk ? ” he asked. 

“ Yes, if you would like to.” 

“ I will get your things for you ; just wait here.” 


STEP BY STEP. 


139 


He soon returned with her hat, wrap, and gloves, and 
the two set out together. They walked on for some little 
way, neither saying very much, until Herbert said : 

“ I wish you would step in here with me.” 

Agnes complied with his request, and found herself in 
a sort of jewelry store, although jewelry was by no means 
the only thing displayed there, as the cedar of the islands 
made up into beautiful boxes and ornaments of various 
sorts was to be seen. The show cases on one side of the 
room were filled with amber in different shapes and 
designs. There were pins, ear rings, beads, hair orna- 
ments, and other articles too numerous to mention. 
Toward these cases Herbert made his way. 

“ I want you to help me to select a present,” he said to 
Agnes. Then he asked the shopkeeper to display one 
piece after another. 

“Which do you think the prettier,” he asked, “the 
amber pins or the hair ornaments ? ” 

“Of course, that is just as any one fancies. I like the 
pins better myself.” 

“ Which pattern? ” 

Agnes chose the one she preferred, and Herbert looked 
it over well. 

“ Is this the best one you have of that style? ” he asked. 

The shopkeeper declared it was as good a one as he 
had in the store — perfect in every respect. 

“ Then I will take it.” 


140 


STEP BY STEP. 


He paid for it, and had it put up in a neat box. Out 
on the street once more, and he turned to Agnes. 

“ Will you accept this as a birthday gift?” he asked, 
placing it in her hand. 

“ Oh, Herbert, how very thoughtful of you ! I had no 
idea you were choosing this for me, or I should not have 
been so free in my remarks. I did not know that you 
remembered it was my birthday to-day.” 

“I generally remember what I am anxious to,” he 
said, dryly. 

“ Well, I am sure I thank you many times. It is a 
complete surprise. I had hardly thought about its being 
my birthday. How old I am getting ! I can hardly 
realize that I am really nineteen.” 

“ Seven years older than when I first knew you. Say 
Agnes,” he exclaimed, suddenly changing the subject, 
“ is that Leighton fellow anything to you ? ” 

“ Herbert ! ” And she stood still and looked at him. 

“Well, is he?” 

“ How can you ask me such a question when I told 
you I had never met him but once until I saw him here 
in Bermuda? ” 

“ Well, he might be something to you for all that.” 

“ If he might, he is not.” 

“ Really, Agnes ? ” 

“Why, Herbert, do you doubt my word? We are 
nothing in the world but friends. I am very sorry you 


STEP BY STEP. 


141 


should suggest such a thiug. I would not have Mr. 
Leighton know it for the world. I do not know what he 
would think.” 

Well, that’s all right. I did not mean any harm. 
I hope you will not be ofiended.” 

“ No, I am not offended, but I do not see what sug- 
gested such a thing to you.” 

‘‘ Oh, I presume I was foolish. Forget all about it, if 
you can, and we will say no more on the subject.” 

But Agnes could not easily forget it. Whatever could 
have put such a thought into her cousin’s head, and why 
was he so concerned ? She fell asleep musing on these 
questions and awoke the next morning thinking of them. 

The day for the drill arrived, and Agnes was ready at 
the appointed hour. The drive, although not long, was 
extremely pleasant. From Prospect a fine view of Ber- 
muda was obtained. They were a little early, so drove 
round and had a good chance to examine the barracks. 
It was all entirely new to Agnes, and something that 
interested her intensely. Presently the bugle sounded, 
and the soldiers began to assemble. They came from all 
directions, and took their places in line, where they were 
inspected by the officers, after roll call. Then they 
marched down to the parade grounds, the band taking 
the lead, and here for an hour or more they were drilled. 
They marched, filed, formed in a hollow square with fixed 
bayonets, as though defying any charge of cavalry, and 


142 


STEP BY STEP. 


finally one company was sent out to skirmish, when it 
was each man for himself. 

“ I think I never saw anything much more interesting,’’ 
said Agnes, when at last it was over and they had turned 
homeward. 

It was just before they reached the avenue that Mr. 
Leighton inquired how her cousin was getting along. 

“ He has not said anything since I last saw you,” said 
Agnes, “ but I feel that the Spirit is working with him.” 

May he listen to his teachings. I presume you have 
a great amount of influence with him, Miss Rice — indeed, 
there is generally some one we can each exert more influ- 
ence over than any other person, and I feel sure that 
your influence with him will be in the right direction.” 

I hope so, Mr. Leighton. I see a great deal of Her- 
bert — indeed, we have been together most of the time 
since coming to Bermuda, and I feel an almost over- 
whelming desire to see him a Christian. I hope I may 
do my duty faithfully.” 

‘‘ 1 trust you will.” 

The house was reaahed by this time, and after helping 
her to alight, Mr. Leighton lifted his hat and drove away. 


CHAPTER XV. 


Herbert’s decision. 

TTERBERT still continued to attend the meetings 
with Agnes, but he did not rise for prayers, 
neither did he say much to her on the subject, and she 
thought best to wait awhile and see what he would do if 
left to himself. She saw no more of Mr. Leighton, ex- 
cepting as she accidentally met him on the street once or 
twice, at which times he seemed somewhat reserved ; and 
he never stopped long to converse with her. 

There remained but a week or two more for them to 
stop in Bermuda, when they went to church one Sunday 
evening as usual. The services were specially impres- 
sive. The testimonies this evening were chiefly in regard 
to the danger of procrastination, and at the close those 
present who were desirous of the prayers of Christians 
were invited to rise during the singing. Some one struck 
up a hymn, and they sang the first and last stanzas : 

“ ‘ Almost persuaded ’ now to believe ; 

‘Almost persuaded’ Christ to receive; , 

Seems now some soul to say, 

‘ Go, Spirit, go thy way. 

Some more convenient day, 

On thee I’ll call.’ 


143 


144 


STEP BY STEP. 


‘ ‘ Almost persuaded,’ harvest is past! 

‘Almost persuaded,’ doom comes at last I 
‘Almost’ cannot avail; 

‘ Almost ’ is but to fail ! 

Sad, sad, that bitter wail — 

‘Almost, hut lost!' ” 

Agnes had her head bowed during the singing, and she 
felt, rather than saw, the one at her side rise. Her heart 
thrilled with gratitude, but she did not raise her head 
until the end of the service, and when she did so, her 
eyes were wet with tears. 

There were several people who came forward to speak 
with Herbert after the services had closed, including the 
minister, but Agnes could not say a word. Even after 
they had left the church and were alone, she said nothing. 
The silence was broken at length by Herbert : 

“ Well, I did it. It was hard, but it is accomplished 
at last.” 

Then she merely said : “ Praise the Lord.” 

“ I did not know that I should ever get the courage,” he 
continued. “ But while they were singing that hymn, I 
glanced over it, and the last line caught my eye — ‘ Al- 
most — hut lost’ ; and I thought, ‘Is it possible that means 
me ? ’ I said, ‘ No. It shall not be my experience.’ And 
I rose.” 

“ I have abundant proof that the Lord hears and an- 
swers prayer,” said Agnes, “ even if I had not known it 
before.” 


STEP BY STEP. 


145 


“Yes, I believe he does. I know that I really desire 
to be saved. I do not mean only to be saved from pun- 
ishment hereafter, but to be saved from sin. I think I 
really want to do what God would have me do, now and 
always. But I must always look to him for help. I hope 
you will pray that he will give me what I need.” 

“ When will you tell your mother and Louise how you 
feel ? ” asked Agnes. 

“ I do not know. I suppose I had better tell them 
soon. I wonder what they will say ? I do not like to 
tell them ; but putting off a disagreeable duty will not 
make it any easier. I know that by experience.” 

“ No. It only makes it harder.” 

They walked on in silence a few steps. Then Herbert 
said, in a husky voice ; 

“ I can never thank you enough, Agnes, for the inter- 
est you have taken in me. If you had not done so, I 
might never have been led to Christ, I never had any 
one speak to me on the subject of personal religion be- 
fore ; and you do not know how it touched me. You 
have been a great help to me.” 

“To God be all the glory,” she replied, reverently. 

The next morning Agnes looked inquiringly at Her- 
bert. As soon as they were alone, he said : 

“ I have told mother and sister.” 

“ Have you ? What did they say ? ” 

“ Sister laughed, and said she guessed it would not last 
K 


146 


STEP BY STEP. 


very long. Mother said she hoped to goodness it would 
last, for I needed something badly enough. She did not 
know whether religion was the thing or not ; but if it 
would answer the purpose, she did not care what it was. 
She always thought I had a dreadful disposition, and I 
suppose I have. The fact is, neither of them believes it 
will amount to anything.” . 

“I trust you will be able to show them that they are 
mistaken.” 

“ I hope so. But it is hard to have your own folks so 
entirely lacking sympathy with you.” 

“ There is a Bible verse that ought to comfort you, 
Herbert : ‘ God is our refuge and strength.’ ” 

“ Thank you for giving me that. I do not know much 
about the Bible yet ; but I mean to learn.” 

“ You will find it an unfailing source of comfort, con- 
solation, wisdom, and cheer. It is a safe chart to take 
for life’s rough voyage.” 

Agnes feared lest Mrs. Chapman or Louise would say 
something to her on the subject ; but neither of them did. 
Whether they were displeased, unconcerned, or did not 
think it worthy of notice, one could not tell by their 
actions. Thus the days passed one after another, until 
but little more than a week remained for their stay. 
Then Agnes was seated in the parlor with her crochet- 
work, one afternoon, when the door was opened by the 
servant, who ushered in Mr. Leighton. She rose and 


STEP BY STEP. 


147 


greeted him, and then said : “You are quite a stranger. 
I did not know whether you were still in Bermuda, or 
not.” 

“ I leave to-morrow,” he said. 

“ So soon I I am sorry for that.” 

“ I have enjoyed some of the time exceedingly ; but I 
am glad to return home now.” 

“ I had hoped we might both go on the same steamer.” 

“ Allow me to ask when you go ? ” 

“ A week from to-morrow ; on the Orinoco.” 

“ I presume you will meet your father by that time.” 

“ I trust so. I think he is on his way home now. Mr. 
Leighton, I have good news for you. Herbert has come 
out into the light.” 

“ That is indeed good news. I am very glad. When 
did he find peace ? ” 

“A week or two ago. He has seemed very happy 
since.” 

“I trust he may always continue in the good way. 
Well, Miss Kice, I must not stop longer. I felt, however, 
that it would not be right for me to leave the place with- 
out a word to you.” 

“ I should certainly have been very sorry if you had. 
But why must you hasten now ? ” 

“ I cannot stay longer, Miss Rice,” he said, hesitating 
for a moment. “This is a beautiful place, but there 
is a fairer land than Bermuda, over yonder. I know 


148 


STEP BY STEP. 


we are both bound for it ; and trust that we shall meet 
there.” 

That was all. He shook hands and departed. Agnes 
said “ good-bye.” As he stepped down to the walk, he 
lifted his hat, and walked away without once look- 
ing up. 

Agnes went back to the parlor. She picked up her 
work ; but the ivory hook was not drawn through the 
worsted. She sat as though in deep meditation ; and in- 
deed she was. What did it all mean? Was it nothing 
but imagination, or had Mr. Leighton acted strangely ? 
Why had he not called again until the eve of his depart- 
ure ? Had she offended him ? She could not possibly 
think of anything she had done. Then she fell to blam- 
ing herself for indulging in such foolish thoughts. Why 
should he call and see her many times ? What right had 
she, a comparative stranger, to expect it? Was it not 
really preposterous in her ? 

Finally she grew tired of thinking and imagining, and 
came to the conclusion that she knew nothing about it ; 
and furthermore, that she was not likely to understand it. 


CHAPTER XVI. 


A REVELATION. 

TT was the last day but one before the sailing of the 
steamer. After tea, Herbert proposed to Agues that 
they take their usual walk. It was a lovely evening ; 
the moon was full, and bright as a moon of that climate 
can be. They walked for some distance this evening ; 
first down by the water, and then in quite an opposite 
direction. 

“Mother said that Florence Van Alsten was here this 
afternoon,” said Herbert. “ Did you see her ? ” 

“No.” 

“ I do not blame you. You do not like her much 
better than I do, I think.” 

“ Why do you say that ? ” 

“ Because I believe it ; and I think you have every 
reason not to like her.” 

“ We ought to like every one.” 

“ I do not see how that is possible.” 

Agnes was silent. 

“How can we like any one who is positively dis- 
agreeable ? ” 

“ There is a Power that can enable us to do it.” 

149 


150 


STEP BY STEP. 


“ Do you always ? ” 

“ I am afraid I do not always ; but I wish I did.” 

“ Then you are a step beyond me ; for there are some 
folks that I really do not want to like.” 

“ You ought to.” 

“ I suppose I ought ; but I do not.” 

There was silence again, broken by Herbert. 

“ Say, Agnes, do you think I am very bad ? ” 

“ I think there has been a great change in you, for 
the better.” 

“ That is encouraging. I am glad you think so. Mother 
asked me, the other day, if I was going to take my re- 
ligion home with me, or leave it when I left you.” 

“ What did you say ? ” 

“ I was excited at first. Then I thought that if I got 
angry, she would ask me where all my religion was ; so 
I only told her that I would try and keep it.” 

“ I hope you will, Herbert.” 

“ I hope so. You must help me. I need help very 
much. Mother and sister only sneer at the whole thing. 
But here we are back, and I do not feel at all like going 
in. Let us walk a little farther.” 

“ I am too tired to go farther to-night.” 

“Well, do not go in, anyway. It is too fine out for 
that. Come up on the upper veranda ; there is not a 
soul any where round there, and it is very pleasant.” 

Agnes complied. There were plenty of easy chairs 


STEP BY STEP. 


151 


there, and she was in no haste to go into the house her- 
self. They sat there for some time without saying much. 
Both seemed absorbed in thought. Then Herbert said : 

Do you realize that we have but one night more 
after this to spend in Bermuda ? ” 

“ That is just what I was thinking.’* 

“ I wish,” said Herbert, “ we were going to stay just 
twice as long.” 

Agnes noticed that he turned his face from her as he 
said this, but thought nothing special of his action. 

** I would like to stay longer,” she said, *•' hut I long to 
see papa and the folks at home.” 

“ There is no one at home that 1 care to see. I wish 
we w^ere going to stay a month longer. I have been 
happier since I have been here than I ever was before.” 

I am glad we have such a pleasant event to remem- 
ber our visit here by. Just think! It was here you 
fii*st saw the dawn of spiritual light.” 

“ Yes ; I shall always revert to it with great pleasure; 
then too, we have enjoyed so much together.” 

“ Indeed we have. Do you know, Herbert, you seem 
almost like a brother to me. I never had a brother, 
but I think you come as near to it as could be. I some- 
times wish we really were brother and sister.” 

Herbert’s face had been turned away all this time; 
now he suddenly looked her full in the face. “ 

“ I do not,” he exclaimed, with emphasis. “ I wish 


152 


STEP BY STEP. 


something entirely different, and something that is pos- 
sible. Do you know, Agnes,” and he took her hands in 
his, “ I wish you were my wife. Will you be? ” 

Agnes sat as one dazed. All power of speech or 
action seemed taken from her. He sat there looking 
steadily at her, and finally said : 

“You have not answered my question yet; will 
you?” 

Once, twice she opened her mouth as if to speak, but 
no words came ; then she burst out into tears. She wept 
until it seemed she could weep no longer. Herbert was 
powerless to check her. 

“ Don’t ; please don’t,” he urged. “ You will make 
yourself ill, besides bringing the whole house out here to 
see what is the trouble.” 

Finally she succeeded in partially controlling herself. 
Then, and not until then, did she speak. 

“ What have I done ? ” she sobbed. 

“ Done ? Why, you have done nothing. What do 
you mean ? ” 

“ Oh, Herbert, I never dreamed of this. I had no 
idea you looked at things in that light. I thought of you 
as a dear friend, as a cousin — no — more than that, as a 
brother ; and I have been mistaken all along. I have 
been taking what I am unable to give in return. Oh, 
dear ! what shall I do ? ” 

“ Do you mean you do not love me, Agnes ? ” 


STEP BY STEP. 


153 


“ No ; not that. I love you very, very much ; but not 
in the way you desire, or the way you love me.” 

There was silence a moment, broken only by sobs 
from one, and a deep sigh from the other. Then 
Herbert said, and his voice sounded exceedingly sad and 
hopeless, “ So you cannot be my wife, Aggie ? ” 

“No; oh, no! I never thought you had such an 
idea. I have been blind, but believe me when I say I 
was not willfully so ; it was all a dreadful mistake.” 

“ I wish I were dead,” said Herbert. 

“ Ho not ; oh, pray, do not ! ” said Agnes, with tears 
streaming down her face. “ It is very wrong in you to 
say that. It is my fault. I take the blame on myself ; 
but do not say anything of that kind.” 

“ No ; you are not to blame ; but I am a fool. I 
ought to have known better. Ho not reproach yourself.” 

“ But I cannot help it. I feel as though I could not 
forgive myself ; yet I did not mean it.” 

“ Of course, you did not. I do not blame you, only I 
wish — I really wish now I had never seen Bermuda. I 
have loved you all the time we have been here ; and I 
think I always admired you from a child. I wish you 
had not been so good to me, and then, perhaps, I might 
have been spared this myself, and also have been spared 
giving you pain ; but I would give all I am worth if you 
loved me as I love you.” And the last few words ended 
in a suppressed sob. 


154 


STEP BY STEP. 


They sat there a long time without speaking. Herbert 
had her hands in his; but his face was turned away. 
No one came to disturb them, and the moments passed, 
one after another. Finally Agnes rose to go into the 
house. Pausing a moment, she said, in a low voice : 

“ Herbert, you will keep close to the Master ? ” 

“ I shall try.’’ 

“You will always find a friend in him.” 

“ I shall miss you dreadfully when I go to meeting,” 

■ “ But you will go ? ” 

“ Yes; for it is right; and I shall try to do my duty.” 

Then they entered the house together. In the entry 
they paused ; no one was anywhere near. Herbert still 
had her hands in his, while his eyes were fixed on her face. 

“ Agnes,” he said, “ is — is there any one else ? ” 

“ No, Herbert, no ; it is not that at all.” 

“ Then, in time, can you not return my love ? ” 

“ Not in the way you mean. In one way I love you 
dearly ; but in that way only. Can’t we be dear friends, 
and nothing more ? ” 

He shook his head, sadly, and turned away. 

Agnes during that night shed tears more bitter than 
any she had shed since her mother’s death. She re- 
proached herself for not having seen things in their true 
light ; and she excused herself on the ground of her com- 
plete innocency. Then she wept because she had caused 
pain to one whom she loved, and because the only brother 


STEP BY STEP. 


155 


she had ever known was to be separated from her. If 
he would only be content to be just friends, and nothing 
more. But she knew him too well to expect that. 

The visit that had been so much to her, and that 
she had enjoyed from the very first, was to end in 
bitterness. Sleep did not soon come to her relief. But 
toward morning tired nature asserted her rights, and she 
slept ; but on a pillow wet with tears. 

The next morning it was a great effort to rise, for she 
felt tired, and her head ached severely ; but she must do 
nothing that would arouse the suspicion of either Mrs. 
Chapman or Louise. She felt sure Herbert would not 
wish them to know what had occurred, and no more did 
she. So she hastened to prepare for breakfast. The 
others had just seated themselves at the table when she 
entered. Casting a hasty glance round the company, she 
saw that they were all present, Herbert included ; but 
she «lid not dare look any one in the face, so she slipped 
quietly into her seat, with a simple “ good-morning.” 

“ Why, Agnes, how pale you look ! ” exclaimed Louise. 

“ I have a headache this morning.” 

“ I should say you had. You do not look as though 
yon had slept a wink all night.” 

“ Then my looks are deceitful.” 

Mrs. Chapman and Louise chatted gayly during the 
meal with the other boarders. Herbert and Agnes said 
but little, though once or twice Agnes tried to join in 


156 


STEP BY STEP. 


the conversation, lest her silence should become notice- 
able, but she had such poor success that she concluded it 
would be safer for her to keep silent. As soon as 
Herbert had finished his breakfast, he left the table. 

“ I wonder what is the matter with Herbert,’^ said his 
mother ; “ he looks glum, and will scarcely speak when 
he is spoken to.” 

“ I don’t know, unless perhaps he is homesick at the 
thoughts of leaving Bermuda,” said Louise. 

Agnes swallowed hard ; it seemed that every mouthful 
must certainly choke her ; but it would not do for her to 
leave the table. She must at least keep up an appear- 
ance of eating. But as soon as possible she made her 
escape. 

She spent much of the day in her room, packing ; she 
would greatly have preferred spending it in bed, but the 
packing must be done. As for Herbert, she saw but 
little of him, excepting at meal times. She noticed then 
that he looked poorly, and several times she felt that she 
should certainly burst into tears. 

“ Is not your head any better ? ” inquired Louise, at 
tea time. 

“ I think not.” 

“You must get a good night’s rest to-night, or you will 
be scarcely able to start to-morrow.” 

Which advice Agnes feared it would be difficult for 
her to follow. 


CHAPTER XVII. 


TAKING LEAVE OF BERMUDA. 

rriHE day dawned fair and lovely. All passengers to 
leave on the steamer Orinoco were to be aboard by 
ten o’clock. There was a brisk wind blowing from the 
north, but not enough to give any cause for apprehension 
to those who dreaded rough water, especially as the steamer 
carried a heavy cargo of onions and potatoes this trip, 
which caused her to settle well down into the water. All 
heavy baggage had been put aboard the previous night, 
only stateroom trunks and hand baggage remaining to be 
carried aboard in the morning. The passengers were 
well laden with flowers and plants, from the most beauti- 
ful roses to the common wild flopper. 

It was with a sinking heart that Agnes crossed the 
bridge and stepped on the deck of the steamer. Herbert 
had walked with her all the way, carrying her wraps and 
showing every little attention possible, but saying almost 
nothing. Now, as she stepped from the shore to the 
bridge, and realized that it was probably the last time 
her foot would ever press Bermudian soil, she felt com- 
pletely overcome. She struggled bravely with her feel- 
ings, however, and after leaving her various parcels in 

167 


158 


STEP BY STEP. 


the stateroom, went back to the deck to occupy the few 
remaining moments in gazing at her. surroundings. 

In a few moments more they were swinging slowly 
round away from the dock. And soon the Orinoco 
started slowly away from the town of Hamilton, with 
its white houses, away from the islands lovely with 
verdure; from waving palms and cocoanuts; from the 
place that had been to Agnes what no place ever had 
been before, or ever would be again. She felt as though 
she were leaving a part of herself there, something that 
she could never separate from that little oceanic paradise. 

The water was blue and sparkling, just as it was the 
morning they first saw it, and Agnes sat and watched it 
and the receding shore for a long time. That afternoon 
she spent in her stateroom, but after that she was able 
to be on deck until the day they landed. 

She and Herbert would sit together on the hurricane 
deck for hours ; but on such occasions there was but little 
said by either one. They would sit gazing on the vast 
extent of water that was spread out before them in all 
directions. Nothing of an unpleasant nature was alluded 
to ; but Agnes had never seen Herbert look so sad, and 
he could notice a troubled look on the face of his com- 
panion. Louise seemed to observe it also, and once or 
twice tried to ascertain the cause, but with little success. 
Agnes could not help wondering whether either she or her 
mother had any suspicion as to the real state of affairs ; she 










step by Step. 


Page loO 


STEP BY STEP. 


159 


sometimes fancied that they did, but could not tell. The 
hours wore away one after another until the third morn- 
ing dawned and the passengers awoke to find that they 
were within a few hours of New York. There was pack- 
ing of bags and trunks and gathering up of various bun- 
dles, after which and the hurried breakfast nearly every 
one went out on deck to see the steamer come up to the 
dock. When their pier was reached, Agnes eagerly 
scanned the faces on it, until one dear, familiar counte- 
nance was recognized. The moments seemed like hours 
while they were making fast the vessel and letting down 
the gang plank ; then she was clasped in her father’s arms. 

As soon as possible they were through with the 
custom house officers, and, taking a carriage, they all 
drove to a hotel to rest one night before continuing their 
journey. There was much to tell on the part of both 
father and daughter ; so much, that it seemed as though 
they could only just make a beginning that day. 

The next morning they took the train, the Chapmans 
accompanying them to the station. The parting with 
Herbert, to one who knew nothing of the circumstances, 
was nothing but commonplace, but to the two who knew 
all, it was exceedingly painful. Mrs. Chapman and 
Louise kissed Agnes and bade her good-bye ; but Herbert 
wrung her hand. There were no words uttered by either 
one. Soon the cars were in motion, and the parting that 
Agnes had so much dreaded was over. 


160 


STEP BY STEP. 


It was not until they were home that Agnes told her 
father what had transpired. He had noticed her sad 
expression, and asked the cause, but she only said : 

“ When we are home 1 will tell you all, papa.” 

So, as they sat in the library that evening, she un- 
folded her heart to him, and kept nothing back. 

“ Papa,” she asked, while her eyes filled with tears, 
“ do you think I was very much to blame ? ” 

My child, I do not. Perhaps you should have seen 
sooner than you did ; but you are very young and inex- 
perienced, and could not be expected to know what some 
one older might have known. Did your cousin never in 
any way express his feelings toward you until he told you 
in so many words? ” 

“Not so that I understood at all. He often said he 
thought a great deal of me ; but I did of him, and so 
thought it was nothing more than a cousinly regard. I 
cannct tell you how sorry I am ; but I could never marry 
him.” 

“ I am very glad. I do not think he is the one for you. 
He has many good qualities, 1 should judge; but I 
think he has a changeable, roving disposition, and I do 
not think he is one calculated to make my daughter 
happy through life.” 

“ I know he is not content long in a place. Do you 
think he will get over feeling badly soon ? ” 

“ I think he will find in time that life is worth living. 


STEP BY STEP. 


161 


after all. I do not doubt bis love for you at the present ; 
but I do not believe he is so broken-hearted as he thinks.” 

There was not much more said ; and Agnes soon rose, 
and kissing her father, went to her room. She wondered 
why she had been allowed to cause so much pain and 
unhappiness to another, and how it would all end. She 
almost wished she knew what would be the outcome of it 
all. Was this really one of the “all things”? Was it 
going to work for her good and Herbert’s ? Herbert was 
his child now ; so there must be some lesson in it for both 
of them. So she would trust the Lord to lead her step by 
step, and not be unhappy because she could not see the 
end from the beginning. 

So the days passed with no new developments. She had 
no direct word from Herbert, although in an occasional 
letter from Louise he was mentioned in expressions that 
caused Agnes to think that her cousin was trying to lead 
her to betray herself in some way. She would write that 
“Herbert was more glum than when he was in Ber- 
muda,” or, “ Herbert was not one-half as attentive to his 
sister as he used to be to his Cousin Agnes ; ” but in her 
letters of reply Agnes seldom mentioned his name. 


CHAPTER XVIII. 


AGNES AND HER SCHOLARS. 

T he summer and fall passed quickly away. The 
late days of fall had arrived. The air was crisp 
and cool, and the foliage gorgeous in colorings. It was 
just at this time that a revival began in the church of 
which the Rices were members. It was in the midst of 
this that Agnes’s heart went out with a great yearning 
to the scholars in her Sunday-school class. Slie longed 
and wept and prayed for their conversion. She went 
from her knees to the class, and from the class back to 
her knees. But none of them seemed to be particu- 
larly impressed. They laughed, and whispered during 
the lesson ; and even when she was trying earnestly to 
impress them with some solemn truth, they would sud- 
denly begin to talk on a subject entirely foreign to the one 
she was trying to set forth. This continued for several 
weeks ; when Agnes decided that she would try talking 
with them personally. In one of the girls she felt a special 
interest. She would begin with her. Accordingly, the 
next Sunday she detained her after school was dismissed. 
“ Ella,” she said, “ I should like to see you for a short 

time. Can you wait a moment ? ” 

162 


STEP BY STEP. 


163 


“ Yes, ma’am.** 

She took the child into her arms and began : 

“ Ella, do you love the Lord Jesus ? *’ 

The child cast her eyes down, but made no reply. 

“Do you not love the dear Saviour who loved you so 
much that he left his home in glory, and came down to 
earth to die for you ? ** 

A moment’s pause ; then a faint “ I don’t know.” 

“ Do you want, by-and-by, when you are through with 
all on earth, to go to a happy home in heaven ? ** 

“Yes, ma’am.” 

“ Do you know what you must do, in order to have one 
of those mansions prepared for you ? ** 

Another brief pause ; then the same answer. 

“ What is it?” 

“ Be a Christian.” 

“ What do you think it means to be a Christian ? ” 

“ To be good, and serve Christ.” 

“ Wouldn’t you like to be one?” 

“ I don’t know — yes, ma’am.” 

“ You would like to be a Christian. But are you ready 
to be really in earnest about it ? Are you ready to say : 
‘ I will have Christ, if I have nothing else ’ ? Are you 
ready to decide for him now ? ” 

The child glanced uneasily at her companions who 
were waiting for her, and still said nothing. 

“ Will you not decide the question to-day, Ella ? ” 


164 


STEP BY STEP. 


‘‘ I don’t think I can.” 

“ Why not ? ” 

“ I don’t know,” she said, with an annoyed laugh. 

Agnes did not detain her longer, as her companions 
were waiting for her, and she herself was growing mo- 
mentarily impatient. She dismissed her, merely saying ; 

“I am very sorry you are not ready to decide for 
Christ now, Elia ; for you do not know how long the door 
of mercy may remain open to you. 1 want you to re- 
member that I am praying for you.” 

The little girl made her escape, and Agnes went home 
with a heavy heart. She had felt interested in her class, 
and especially in this particular member ; she had prayed 
much, and spoken to the best of her ability, with appar- 
ently no good result ; indeed, she feared she might have 
done more harm than good. Why was it? Others seemed 
to have success when they tried to work for the Lord. 
There was Miss Sherman, who had a class next to hers. 
Two of her girls had recently been converted and joined 
the church. And there was a class of boys just across 
the aisle — three of them had accepted Christ as their 
Saviour. Why were her girls so indifferent ? Did she 
have no talent for teaching ? She loved the work, and 
she loved her class ; but might it not be that she had 
mistaken her calling ? None of her class had been con- 
verted, nor could she see that they were at all inter- 
ested ; and she had taught them for a year. Had that 


STEP BY STEP. 


165 


whole year’s work been thrown away ? She fell on her 
knees and prayed that the Lord would show her his will 
in the matter. She could not bear the thought of giving 
up her class, she loved them so dearly ; yet if she had no 
gift for teaching, she did not wish to continue in it. So 
she prayed, first for herself, and then for her class. She 
rose from her knees somewhat reassured. She would 
look at her Bible. She did not know what to read ; but 
she opened it, and a verse that she had marked in pencil 
at some previous time attracted her attention. It was in 
the eleventh chapter of Ecclesiastes : “ He that observeth 
the wind shall not sow ; and he that regardeth the clouds 
shall not reap.” 

So here was her answer. It was for her to simply sow 
the seed, and leave the harvest with the Lord. She must 
“ sow beside all waters ” ; for she knew hot which would 
prosper. It would certainly be pleasant to see some 
fruits of her labors ; but if it was her part to do the 
sowing, and some one else to do the reaping, “ the Lord’s 
will be done.” She prayed much in the days that fol- 
lowed, and went to her class with a deep yearning for the 
salvation of the souls intrusted to her care. 

It was four weeks after Agnes had tried to talk with 
Ella Kipley ; and the morning sermon was followed by 
the ordinance of baptism. The pastor administered the 
rite to four candidates, two of whom were young girls, 
members of the Sunday-school. Agnes noticed that 


166 


STEP BY STEP. 


Ella was present at the service, and breathed a silent 
prayer that something might be said or done that would 
make an impression on her. She saw that the child 
was more attentive in the class than usual. 

The lesson ended, and the closing hymn was sung. 
Most of the children had left the class. Agnes stopped 
a moment to pick up the books and look around 
to see that everything was in order, as she gener- 
ally did. Glancing up, she saw that Ella had not gone, 
but was lingering as though undecided which way to turn. 
A sudden impulse seized Agnes to speak to her once more 
on the subject that was so near her heart. The child 
seemed in no hurry to-day ; none of her friends appeared 
to be waiting ; and she might not have another such op- 
portunity for some time. So she went up to her, and, 
taking her by the hand, drew her down to a seat. 

“ Ella dear,” she said, “ do you know what I thought 
when those little girls were following their Saviour in 
baptism this morning ? ” 

There was no answer ; but Ella turned her face a little 
from her teacher. 

“ I wondered,” continued Agnes, “ how long it would 
be before some of my girls would be ready to take that 
same step. I wondered how long they were going to wait 
before accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. 
How is it with you, Ella?” 

With a stifled sob the little girl turned toward her. 


STEP BY STEP. 


167 


** Oh, Miss Kice,” she said, “ I would give anything if 
I could I 

For a moment Agnes felt as if her heart stood still 
She had not really expected this. She had prayed for it, 
but had not the faith to fully believe that her prayers 
were to be answered so soon and so directly. How often 
our faith falls short of what the Lord is willing to do ! 

“Oh, Ella,” Agnes said, “I cannot tell you how glad 
I am ! Do you really wish you were a Christian ? ” 

“Yes, ma’am. I wish I was.” 

“ My child, then what hinders you ? ” 

“I don’t know.” It was the same answer she had 
given her teacher once before, but in reality how differ- 
ent. There was no indifference about it this time. 

“Are you thoroughly in earnest? Do you desire to 
be a Christian above everything else ? ” 

“Yes, Miss Kice.” 

“ Then do you know what he requires of you?” 

Silence once more. 

“Do you know the Bible says, ‘If we confess our sins, 
he is faithful and just to forgive us oUr sins and to cleanse 
us from all unrighteousness ’ ? ” 

“ Yes, ma’am.” 

“Then can you doubt that if you comply with the con- 
ditions he will fulfill his promise ? ” 

“No; but ” 

“ Well, what is the doubt about? ” 


168 


STEP BY STEP. 


** I can’t feel right, Miss Rice.” 

“ In what respect ? ” 

“ I can’t feel as I think a Christian ought to feel. I 
do not feel that I am forgiven.” 

“ So you think that if you could feel differently you 
would be all right ; is that it ? ” 

“ Yes, ma’am ; I suppose it is.” 

“ Is that what the Lord Jesus says we must do? Does 
he say when you feel differently you shall be saved ; or 
does he say, ^Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou 
shalt be saved ’ ” 

“ He says ‘ believe,’ Miss Rice.” 

“ Then can you not do it ? Can you doubt that, if you 
go to him and tell him all your heart, just how sorry you 
are for the wrong you have done and ask him to forgive 
you, that he will do it ? ” 

Once more the child seemed to have no answer. 

“ Do you believe the Lord always tells the truth, 
Ella?” 

“ Oh, yes, ma’am.” 

“Then do you believe when he says he will forgive 
those who ask him and save those who believe on him 
that he will do it? ” 

“Yes, ma’am,” in a subdued voice. 

“Have you asked him? ” 

The child nodded. 

“Then has he done it?” 


STEP BY STEP. 


169 


** I hope so,” after a pause. 

“We can know so, Ella.” 

Just what to say further Agnes did not know. She 
merely asked : 

“ Will you not take him at his word ? ” 

“ I will try,” was the answer. 

Nearly every one had left the chapel by this time, so 
kissing the little girl, she bade her “ good-bye,” saying, 
as she did so, “ I shall pray for you, Ella.” 

How different everything seemed to Agnes from what 
it had a short time before when she entered the house of 
prayer ! Her heart was so light that she felt as if all 
nature were different, for God was answering her prayers, 
and one of her dear scholars was interested in her soul’s 
eternal welfare. She longed for the next Lord’s Day to 
come, and almost feared that, after all, it might be only 
a passing fancy with the child and not a deep, heart con- 
viction. She eagerly scanned her face the next Sunday, 
to see if she could read any change there, and embraced 
the first opportunity after the school was dismissed to 
question her. 

“ How is it, Ella ? ” she asked ; “ is the question settled 
yet?” 

“ I have settled that I want and mean to be a Chris- 
tian, Miss Rice, but I have not received the assurance 
yet.” 

“ Do you mean to keep on trusting the Lord and 


170 


STEP BY STEP. 


trying to serve him whether you ever feel any differently 
or not?’* 

“ Yes, Miss Kice ; I think I do.** 

“ Then you will be all right, for the Lord never will 
fail to do all that he has promised.** 

There was no more said then, but Agnes felt confident 
that if the child were really as much in earnest as she 
had expressed herself to be, she would certainly find the 
light. 

It was the middle of the week, when Agnes was sum- 
moned down to the parlor to see Ella. 

“ Miss Rice,** she exclaimed, jumping up to greet her 
teacher, I wanted to come and see you and to let you 
know that it is all right, and I see it now.** 

“ How was it, my child ? ’* asked her teacher, folding 
her in her arms. “ Tell me all about it.** 

“ Well, you know I told you how much I wanted to be 
a Christian. I felt that Sunday of the baptism as though 
I would give anything if I were only a Christian, and I 
thought, in order to be one, I had got to feel in some 
particular way. I supposed I was going to be converted 
in just the same way that I had heard others say they 
were, so I was afraid I did not feel right. You see I did 
not believe that the Lord had forgiven my sins, because 
I did not feel real happy.*’ 

And how did you come to see your mistake ? ’* 

“ I was reading in my Bible one day and thinking and 


STEP BY STEP. 


171 


praying. I had read for some time, and I could not 
anywhere find that the Bible said how we must feel, but 
I found that verse you spoke to me of, that one you know 
that says, ‘ Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou 
shall be saved,’ and I thought ‘ Now I do believe on him, 
and if I do what the Bible says, I shall be saved.’ I 
knew I had asked him to forgive me and make me his 
child, and somehow, all at once, I can’t just tell how it 
was, but I saw that I had done what he said, and that 
therefore he would certainly save me.” 

Tears were in Agnes’ eyes as the child finished. She 
clasped her closer, and imprinted a fervent kiss on the 
innocent childish face. 

And now,” said Ella, I want to be baptized.” 

“ Why do you wish that, Ella ? ” 

“ Because Jesus tells us to be baptized if we believe on 
him.” 

Agnes could not doubt either the child’s sincerity or 
her understanding. She merely said, however, “ I am 
very glad.” 

It was the second Sunday after this that Agnes had 
the unspeakable pleasure of seeing one of her scholars 
confess Christ before the world. It was, indeed, a joyous 
occasion to her, and as she walked home after the service, 
the words that kept repeating themselves in her mind 
were : “ In due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” 


CHAPTER XIX. 


SUKPRISES FOR AGNES. 

SURPRISES seldom come singly. For awhile life 
^ was quiet and uneventful to Agnes. The first sur- 
prise that came to her was in the form of a letter from 
her Cousin Louise, which ran thus : 

“Peak Agnes: I fear I have been very negligent in my 
correspondence with you, but as I now have something to say, 
I determined to write and say it. I will begin at the beginning 
and tell you all. I do not think you were ever acquainted with 
Miss Yan Alsten’s brother, were you? Well, I had a pressing 
invitation from Florence some time ago to make her a visit, 
which invitation I accordingly accepted, only returning home 
last week. I had a perfectly splendid time, and to make a long 
story short, when I came home I wore a diamond ring on my 
left hand, which of course meant that I was engaged to Eugene 
Yan Alsten. 

“I wish you could see my ring, Agnes. It is a solitaire, and 
very handsome. I do not know what it cost, but it is larger and 
handsomer than the one Florence’s father gave her, and that 
cost a hundred dollars . 

“Herbert is dreadfully mad. He just about raved when he 
heard about it, and declared that he would never own that scamp 
for a brother, and he most certainly would not own Florence as 
a sister; but then, fortunately, he does not rule me. Mother is 
pleased enough about it. 

“Eugene is very fine looking. He has gray eyes and lovely 
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173 


brown, curly hair; besides, he is a perfect gentleman. Some 
folks are mean enough to say horrid things about him, though I 
have heard it insinuated that he drank too freely of champagne, 
and some one even said that he was carried home drunk from a 
party not long ago, but I think they just said it out of spite. 
Anyway, I don’t know as I care very much so long as he is so 
perfectly charming. A good many young men in society occa- 
sionally take a little too much wine when they are in com- 
pany. 

“Mother has always wanted me to marry a man who had 
money, so I suppose she will have her wish. 

“I expect to go to New York next month on a shopping expe- 
dition, for you see if I am to go into a family like the Van 
Alstons, I shall want an elaborate trousseau. I do not expect 
to he married before next fall, however, hut Eugene says he will 
not wait longer than October. So I presume when the leaves 
turn, I shall change my name to Louise Van Alsten. Will it 
not seem queer? It makes me laugh to write it. 

“ Now do reply soon and congratulate me, for I am delighted 
myself. You must excuse this mess of nonsense, for you know 
I never was very sensible, and I expect I am less so than ever at 
the present. Hoping to hear from you soon, 

“I remain your cousin, 

“Louise Chapman.” 

Agnes finished reading the letter, and then sat quite 
still for some time. She gazed out of the window and 
let the letter lay in her lap. She had always known that 
Louise was gay and thoughtless, but that she had gone 
to such an extent as her letter would indicate, Agnes felt 
almost unwilling to believe. She realized that her cousin 
had allowed worldly ambition to conquer her judgment, 
for she knew by her letter that she felt no real, true love 


174 


STEP BY STEP. 


for the young man to whom she had engaged herself, 
only a certain pride that she had captivated one who was 
handsome, polished, and wealthy. 

What should she say to her ? She pondered and prayed 
over the matter, and then wrote to her cousin. She felt it 
was not just the kind of a letter Louise would enjoy, yet she 
wrote nothing unkind. She said all her conscience would 
allow. It was a wish expressed for her true happiness, 
and a hope that she had done what was for the best, with 
a slight caution, as she was to take a very important 
step. 

The next surprise that came to Agnes was entirely 
different in its character. She was summoned to the 
parlor one afternoon to see a caller. She entered the 
room and stood still for a moment, then advanced and 
held out her hand to greet Mr. Leighton. 

“ Miss Rice,” he said, as he seated himself after the 
greeting, “ pardon me for taking you thus unawares, but 
I came to the city yesterday on business and took this 
liberty.” 

“I am pleased to see you,” remarked Agnes, simply. 

‘‘And how have you been since your return from 
Bermuda ? ” inquired the gentleman. 

“ Very well, thank you,” she replied, and added, “ You 
left Bermuda somewhat hurriedly, did you not?” 

“ Somewhat at the last, although I had intended re- 
turning at about that time.” 


STEP BY STEP. 


175 


There was silence for a few moments. Both seemed a 
trifle embarrassed. Then Mr. Leighton broke the silence 
by inquiring after the friends she was with while in 
Bermuda. 

“ I received a letter from my Cousin Louise a few days 
ago/’ she said, “ in which she told me of her recent 
engagement to Mr. Eugene Van Alsten.” 

“Eugene Van Alsten? I am sorry to hear that,” he 
remarked, as his brow darkened. “ I fear your cousin is 
not aware of this young man’s character?” 

“ Louise seemed to admit that he drank quite freely ; 
but it makes little difierence to her, Mr. Leighton, so 
long as he is polished and has money.” 

Mr. Leighton looked grave and said he was exceed- 
ingly sorry to hear it ; then he inquired after Herbert. 
Agnes said she had not heard from him directly, but she 
believed he was well. A look of surprise came across 
her companion’s face. 

“Pardon me,” he said, “but I thought you were 
inseparable friends last spring.” 

“We were.” 

“Yet you say you have not heard from him. But I 
fear I am intrusive. I would like, though, to know how 
the young man is advancing spiritually, if you are able 
to inform me.” 

“ I trust he is all right from what I have heard of 
him through his sister’s letters.” 


176 


STEP BY STEP. 


The gentleman looked perplexed. There was an em- 
barrassing silence : then he spoke : 

“ Miss Kice, I am going to ask you a very plain ques- 
tion, and I trust you will forgive me if it is too plain, and 
use your own judgment as to answering it.” He stopped 
a moment, as though at a loss how to proceed, then went 
on : “I thought when we were in Bermuda that you and 
Mr. Chapman were engaged. Was I mistaken ? ” 

Agnes’ cheeks crimsoned, she hesitated a moment, then 
said : 

^‘You were mistaken, Mr. Leighton; we were not 
engaged at that time, neither have we been at any 
other.” 

“ Then I labored under a false impression ; perhaps I 
formed too hasty a judgment,” said he, leaning back in 
his chair ; “ pardon my freeness, Miss Rice.” 

Then the conversation drifted into other topics. Mr. 
Leighton inquired of Agnes how she was getting along 
spiritually, and she told him about her Sunday-school 
class, and asked him to pray for the members. At length 
he rose to go, saying as he did : 

“I expect to leave the city to-morrow, but I shall 
probably return in a week or so on business that may 
detain me here some little time. May I have the pleas- 
ure of calling to see you then ? ” 

Agnes assented, and he took his departure. 


CHAPTER XX. 


THE OUTCOME. 

11/rR. LEIGHTON left the city the next day. But, 
true to his word, he returned in a short time, and 
his stay this time seemed to be quite indefinite. Indeed, 
he appeared in no particular hurry that it should be oth- 
erwise. He was a frequent visitor at Mr. Rice’s house, 
and Agnes saw much of him for the next three or four 
weeks. He came one evening at the end of this time, and 
wanted to know if Miss Rice would like to take a walk. 
She was obliged to decline the invitation, however, owing 
to the fact that her father and other inmates of the house 
had gone out ; and as Mr. Rice somewhat expected a gen- 
tleman to call that evening for some papers that had 
been promised him, he had specially requested Agnes to 
remain at home. So Mr. Leighton seated himself with 
her in the library. There was nothing of importance 
said by either one, until the gentleman broke the silence 
by saying that he expected to return to his home the next 
morning. On this, Agnes looked up from her crochet 
work with an expression that showed some surprise. He 
evidently perceived it ; for he said : 

“ It was somewhat unexpected to me. But I received 

M 177 


178 


STEP BY STEP. 


a letter to-day that showed me I was needed at home ; 
and as I have nearly finished transacting the business I 
had to do here, I feel that I must return at once.’^ 

Silence again, during which Agnes crocheted vigor- 
ously. At length he said : 

“You do not even say you are sorry to have me go. 
Miss Agnes.” 

“ I beg your pardon. I am very sorry. I shall miss 
you, most certainly.” 

“ I hope you will.” 

It seemed to Agnes rather a queer expression, and she 
dropped her work in her lap and looked at him. He 
smiled and said : 

“ It is pleasant to be missed. Do you not think so ? ” 

“ Pleasanter to he missed, than to 7nissJ* 

“ Do you not think I shall participate in the latter 
feeling also ? ” 

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she replied : 

“ I do not know.” 

He rose, and, going over to where she sat, took her 
work from her, and seating himself by her side took 
both her hands in his, saying as he did so : 

“ I want you to look me right in the eyes, and then 
tell me, if you can, that you do not know.” 

She looked up, but it was only for a moment. Then 
her eyes fell, and she laughingly questioned : 

“ How should I know ? ” 


STEP BY STEP. 


179 


“ You may know it because I tell you so.” 

Agnes began to feel a trifle uneasy, and would have 
drawn her hands away from the clasp they were in ; but 
he held them fast. It seemed to her they had sat thus 
for an exceedingly long time, neither speaking ; but in 
reality it was a very few minutes, as the clock on the 
mantel plainly showed. Then Mr. Leighton broke the 
silence. 

“ Agnes, I have something that I must say to you before 
I leave you. It has been on my mind for a long time, 
and I cannot go away without telling you. I think, how- 
ever, you must know what my feelings are toward you, 
do you not ? ” 

Did he expect an answer? If so, he was certainly 
disappointed ; for she felt, as she afterward described it, 
as though her lips were sealed. He waited a moment, 
and then continued : 

“ It is nothing new — this affection that I feel for you. 
In fact, I think I have loved you almost from the first 
time I saw you. I am sure I have from the second. 
And now, my dear, is it too much for me to hope that 
my love is returned, in a measure, at least ? ” 

Again he was answered by silence. She felt utterly 
unable to utter a syllable, until he took her into his arms 
and, for the first time, pressed a kiss on brow and cheek 
and lips. Then her pent-up feelings found vent in tears. 
They came in a perfect torrent, and for a while he let 


180 


STEP BY STEP. 


them have their way without trying to check them ; but 
at length, when he thought this had lasted long enough, 
he asked ; 

“ What have you to say to me, darling ? ” 

Drying her tears, she looked up with a smile, and at 
the same time with a shyness that was bewitching, and 
said : 

“ I think you know without my saying anything.’’ 

The kisses were showered on her this time. Hands and 
cheeks and lips all came in for their share. Then, placing 
her on the sofa and taking a seat beside her, he told her 
the whole story. 

“ I admired you the first time I saw you, Agnes. 
Whether it was genuine love or not, I am not fully pre- 
pared to say. But T have no doubt about it that day I 
met you on Victoria Park, in Bermuda. That meeting 
inspired me with new hopes. It was a complete surprise, 
as you know, but none the less pleasant for that. Then 
you remember I called to see you, and then there was 
the drive to Prospect ; and if the first part of that drive 
was half as pleasant to you as it was to me, you were sat- 
isfied. But before I helped you to alight at your board- 
ing place, a vague feeling of dread had taken possession 
of me. You spoke to me of the interest you had in your 
cousin’s spiritual welfare ; and somehow, the words you 
spoke, and the way in which they were uttered, led me 
to believe that there was a closer relationship between 


STEP BY STEP. 


181 


you two than that of third cousins. I went back to my 
hotel, and the idea haunted me, while circumstances 
that I had thought nothing of before, now rose up before 
me with startling clearness ; and though they were trivial 
in themselves, they seemed to me at that time to carry 
great weight with them. I remembered the cool way in 
which Mr. Chapman spoke to me the day you introduced 
me to him in the Park, and the evident haste that he 
seemed to be in to have you accompany him elsewhere. 
I thought little of it at the time, knowing that he was 
your cousin ; but it all came back to me then with start- 
ling clearness. I saw, or thought I saw, that I had been 
making a great mistake. I decided then that I would 
intrude no more ; but would do by him what I would 
wish any one to do by me under similar circumstances. 
The rest of my stay in Bermuda was anything but pleas- 
ant. I had intended staying a week or two longer, but 
I felt I could not. And so, with a parting call on you, I 
returned to my home, carrying with me a heavier heart 
than I had known before for years.’* 

He paused, and Agnes said : 

“ I thought at the time it was very strange that you 
should leave so hurriedly, and make so little effort to see 
me during the latter part of your stay. I tried to think 
if I had done anything to offend you.” 

“ Oh, Agnes ! ” he said, “ if you only knew what that 
last brief interview with you, the day before I sailed, 


182 


STEP BY STEP. 


cost me, you would have been very lenient in your judg- 
ment toward me. But to continue my story. When I 
came to this city, some weeks ago, I felt that I must 
call on you. That you were engaged to Mr. Chapman, 
I did not doubt ; but somehow I felt impressed to come. 
I knew there would be no impropriety in a friendly call, 
whatever your relations were toward him ; and so I came. 
Then when I found that what I had supposed to be an 
insurmountable barrier between us was in reality noth- 
ing, my hopes revived again. You know the rest, Agnes ; 
and to-night I believe I am the happiest man in the 
city.” 

He ceased speaking, and for a while they sat in silence. 
But the firm pressure of the hand spoke more deeply 
than words could have done. Finally Agnes asked : 

“ Shall you leave early to-morrow morning, Mr. 
Leighton? ” 

Do you know my first name ? ” he questioned. 

“ Yes,” she replied. 

“ Then call me by it, please.” 

“ Do you leave early in the morning, Robert ? ” 

“ Quite early. I must see your father to-night. What 
time do you expect him home ? ” 

“Before long, now.” 

“ Then, with your permission, I will wait for him.” 

So the minutes passed until shortly after the clock 
struck ten. Agnes heard her father’s key in the night 


STEP BY STEP. 183 

latch, and his familiar step in the hall. Then she ex- 
claimed : 

“ There is papa ! She would have freed herself 
from Mr. Leighton s embrace, but he held her closely, 
saying : 

“ No, Agnes ; he must know. And it is all right.” 

So when Mr. Eice entered the room, he found his 
daughter, with downcast eyes and very red cheeks, 
standing there, with Mr. Leighton’s arm encircling her. 

The conversation that followed need not be put into 
print. Sufficient to say it was essentially the same as 
hundreds of others have been. When Mr. Eice left 
them, there was a suspicious look about his eyes, and his 
parting words were : “ May God give you both his richest 
blessing.” 

Before leaving, Eobert Leighton and Agnes Eice knelt 
together, while the former poured out a prayer of thanks- 
giving to their Father in heaven for his great blessings 
to them. 

“I shall try and call round a few moments in the 
morning, before leaving the city,” he said, as he bade 
her good-night. 

Then she slowly mounted the stairs that led to her 
room. It was a bright moonlight night ; and drawing 
an easy chair to the window she sat down, and resting 
her head in her hand, gazed on the landscape below, 
How beautiful everything seemed, with the moon shed- 


184 


STEP BY STEP. 


ding her silvery light over all I It seemed to bring her 
nearer to the Creator of all, as she gazed and thought 
how great he was, and at the same time how kind and 
good. How much he had always permitted her to enjoy, 
unworthy though she was ; and now a new, deep joy had 
come into her life. She bowed her head and thanked 
him from the depths of her heart ; while over and over 
again the thought would come to her : 

“ He has given me so much, and I deserved so little.’’ 
And as she looked back over her past experience, al- 
though it had not always been what she could have de- 
sired at the time, still she could see her Father’s hand 
in it, and knew that he had been leading her. 

She had just finished her breakfast the next morning, 
when the servant announced Mr. Leighton. 

“ I can stop but a moment,” he said. “ But I came to 
bring this to you before I left.” And so saying, he 
slipped a ring on her finger. 

“ Oh, Kobert, how kind of you ! And you were in 
such haste this morning too.” 

‘‘ Not in so great haste but that I could see to so im- 
portant a matter, Agnes. And now, my darling. I must 
leave you. It is hard to say good-bye ; but I am looking 
forward to the time when we shall not have to be so sep- 
arated ; but will be united ‘ till death do us part.’ ” 

He held her a moment in a strong embrace; then 
hurried away. 


CHAPTER XXI. 


AN OPEN LETTER. 

A GNES was sitting on the veranda one afternoon, 
when the postman came up the walk and threw 
two letters into her lap. She took them up, and turning 
them over, saw that they were both addressed to her. 
Glancing at the postmark, she discovered it to be the 
same on both. The writing on one she recognized as 
that of her cousin Louise. 

Opening this envelope first, she found that it was an 
invitation to Louise’s wedding. Dainty in the highest 
degree, with both engraving and stationary faultless. 
Nevertheless, Agnes laid it down with a sigh. She was 
truly sorry for Louise, for she felt that worldly ambition 
was the ruling motive in her life. 

Then she turned her attention to the second envelope. 
Although it was postmarked from the same place, the 
writing was not the same. Breaking it open, and glanc- 
ing at the signature, she found that it was from Herbert. 
What could it mean ? He had never written to her 
before. She had a vague sense of dread lest something 
was the matter. The letter ran as follows : 

“ Dear Agnes : I presume by this time you have received 
an invitation to my sister’s wedding. I do not wish you to 

18 . 


186 


STEP BY STEP. 


think, however, that it is anything I endorse. I am perfectly 
ashamed of Louise. I never thought she was particularly 
blessed with common sense; and now I know she is not. You 
have no idea what that Eugene Van Alsten is, or you would 
not blame me for feeling so. He is handsome and polite (when 
he has a mind to be) and wealthy ; but when you have said that 
you have said everything that it is possible in his favor. He is 
a silly, brainless, dissipated fellow. You may think that rather 
strong language for me to use in regard to my prospective 
brother; but I will never own him as a brother of mine, and I 
told Louise I would not. He may be my sister’s husband, but 
he is not my brother. 

“ Louise has done nothing but talk about the atfair ever since 
they were engaged. She and mother went to New York, shop- 
ping, and brought home material enough to stock a small store. 

“Van Alsten pretends he is going to do great things; but to 
tell you the truth, he has not brains enough to make a living. 
His father always has supported him, and I presume always will. 

“Louise knows that he drinks wines very freely; but it does 
not seem to trouble her. She would be terribly provoked if she 
mistrusted I had written a word to you about it, so perhaps 
you had better not let her know; but I can’t help it. I wanted 
you to know how it was, and also to know it was nothing that I 
could approve. 

“Now I have something different to tell you; something 
about myself. You know I never was contented in one place 
long at a time, but from a child I always liked to wander 
round. I always thought I should enjoy going into the navy. 
I do not remember whether I ever told you .so, or not; but at 
last, I have a first-rate chance. I presume it will surprise you, 
but I am perfectly delighted myself. Mother does not like the 
idea very well, and Louise is as mad as she can take time from 
her preparations to be; but then I am not accountable to my 
sister, I am happy to say, especially as she is not trimming her 
sails to suit me. 

“The chance I have is one of a thousand. Mother cannot 


STEP BY STEP. 


187 


deny that it is a good one, and finally has given her consent. 
I shall probably go to Africa and China, and I don’t know 
where, before I get through. 

“Louise told me of your engagement, Agnes; and I want to 
congratulate you. I hope you will be very happy, and I think 
you will ; for I feel confident that you have made a wise choice. 
I believe Mr. Leighton will make you a good husband — far 
better than I ever could have been, I loved you; but I can 
see now that you were wiser than I in your judgment. I do 
not think we were just suited to each other. In fact, I was not 
steady or sedate, or whatever you are a mind to call it, enough 
for you, I should have taken a freak that I wanted to go to 
Egypt, or Japan, or the North Polar Sea, just as likely as not, 
and you see that would never have done for you ; so I see that 
it is all for the best as it is. I would not change it. 

“But I would not have you think from what I have written 
that I have lost any of my respect for you, or that I love any 
one else. I respect you more than any one I know, or ever 
have known. As for loving any one else, I do not think I shall 
ever do that. I have loved once, and I think it will be only 
once. We cannot find our ideal many times, while passing 
through this world; but I see now that it is all right as it is. 

“I wanted to write this, so that you might feel perfectly free 
and happy, and not be thinking every once in a while that you 
were causing me unhappiness. 

“ I am very much engrossed with the thought of entering the 
navy. It was one of my boyhood’s dreams, and I hope I may 
not be disappointed in the results. 

“I want you to pray for me; for I feel that I need your 
prayers. I try to act like a Christian, and lead a Christian life 
in all respects; but it is hard sometimes, and I feel that I fall 
very far short. I do not feel just the interest that I wish I did ; 
but I want to do my duty. 

“And now, Agnes, our paths through life will, in all prob- 
ability, lie very far apart. Yours, most likely, in America, in 
a happy home; while I, a cosmopolite, wander in some distant 


188 


STEP BY STEP. 


clime, under a tropical sun, or in frozen seas. We may never 
meet again on earth; but go where I will, the memory of those 
pleasant days we spent together in the fairy isles of Bermuda 
will be with me. The words you spoke to me then will not be 
forgotten. I may not fully live up to them, but I shall remem- 
ber them ; and I hope that in the great hereafter, we shall meet 
in a still fairer land. 

“ May heaven’s richest blessing be yours, my dear cousin. I 
can say that now, although once I could not bear to even think 
of you. in any relationship save one. But it is thus I now sign 
myself, 

“ Your affectionate cousin, 

“Herbert Chapman.” 

There were tears in Agnes’ eyes before she finished 
reading this letter. She loved her cousin as she ever 
had done. Was he truly happy? She hardly knew; 
but she felt that he was not really unhappy ; and she 
felt glad of that. She was also filled with thanksgiving 
that she had never done as he had so earnestly asked 
her to do at one time. She knew that even then his 
disposition had been a roving one, and now she realized 
more than ever that they would not have been happy 
together. 

Then she sat down and wrote him a letter — the first 
one she had ever written — and poured out her heart in 
an earnest entreaty that wherever he went, whatever he 
did, he would keep close to his gracious Master. 


CHAPTER XXII. 


AGNES AND LOUISE IN CONTRAST. 

rriHE weeks and months rolled by, and the Month of 
Roses had again come, with all its beauty and fra- 
grance. The time for Agnes’ wedding had arrived. It 
was a perfect June evening. The day had been warm, 
but not sultry, and the evening air was cool and 
sweet. 

The church was brilliantly lighted, and the air laden 
with the perfume of the roses that had been placed in 
profusion on and around the pulpit. They were the 
only flowers used for decoration, as Agnes had wished it 
to be so. 

The guests with smiling faces were assembling, while 
the organ pealed forth its notes of welcome. There was 
a pause, and then suddenly the organ sounded forth the 
first notes of the Wedding March, as the bridal party 
entered the church. Slowly they passed up the aisle, 
until they stood before the minister. 

Very lovely the fair young girl looked in her immacu- 
late robes of snowy whiteness; her hair arranged in soft 
waves, over which fell the bridal veil, fastened with a 

spray of orange blossoms. Her cheeks were slightly 

189 


190 


STEP BY STEP. 


flushed with excitement, which increased rather than 
detracted from the efiect. 

The organ ceased playing, and the minister began — 
the solemn words spoken carrying with them a meaning 
far deeper to Agnes than ever before. Clear and dis- 
tinct came the answer from each, I do/’ followed by 
the declaration: “I pronounce you to be husband and 
wife.” And Agnes Rice and Robert Leighton were 
now united by the holy bonds of matrimony until 
death.” 

Then they knelt, while a fervent prayer was ofiered 
and a blessing invoked on the union just formed. And 
then the bridal party left the church. 

Louise had sent Agnes and Mr. Leighton a pressing 
invitation to stop with her for a short time, while on their 
wedding tour. So accordingly they spent a few days at 
her home. Agnes had never met Eugene Van Alsten 
before ; and she was not remarkably prepossessed with 
his appearance. He was fine-looking. Indeed, she 
thought she had seldom met with a handsomer man. 
But there was something about him, nevertheless, that, 
added to what she already knew of him, did not cause 
her to look upon him with much favor. 

She and Louise were alone one afternoon, occupying 
themselves with some light fancy work. Louise had 
appeared moody that day, and all attempts on the part 
of Agnes or any one else to draw her into conversation 


STEP BY STEP. 


191 


had been comparatively unsuccessful. Finally she threw 
down her work and burst into tears. 

“ Why, Louise,” exclaimed Agnes, looking up in 
alarm, “ what is the trouble ? ” 

Louise sobbed for some time, and then suddenly dried 
her eyes, and bracing herself up in her chair, said : 

“ Oh, nothing very special. I suppose I am foolish.” 

“But something is certainly the matter,” persisted 
Agues. “You would never do like that if there were 
not.” 

“Well, I presume I am childish.” Then suddenly 
facing her cousin, she asked : “You were not awake last 
night when Eugene came home, were you ? ” 

“I don’t know; no, I think not. Why?” 

“Oh, never mind. Agnes, is Mr. Leighton just as 
pleasant and kind to you now as he was when he first 
knew you ? ” 

Agnes opened her eyes in genuine surprise. 

“How can you ask me?” she said. “It seems as 
though he grew more kind and loving every day.” 

“I thought so. Oh, Agnes Leighton, I would give 
anything if my husband was like yours in some re- 
spects ! ” 

Agnes was truly sorry for her cousin, for her distress 
was genuine. She talked to her for some time, but could 
get her to say nothing more on the subject ; indeed, after 
that, Louise exhibited a certain reserve toward Agnes, 


192 


STEP BY STEP. 


which she maintained throughout the remainder of her 
visit. She never alluded to the subject again, and evi- 
dently felt as though she had made a mistake in speaking 
at all. But Agnes pitied her just the same, for she knew 
that all was not well ; and though Louise with a certain 
degree of pride would have everything seem right to the 
outside world, yet behind the fair exterior she carried an 
aching heart. 

Agnes related all this to her husband when they were 
alone. He took her in his arms, and imprinting a fer- 
vent kiss on the upturned face, said ; 

“ My darling wife, we have much, very much for which 
to thank our Heavenly Father. The way has sometimes 
seemed dark and rough, but his hand has smoothed the 
path and led us, ‘ step by step,’ into a pleasant place.’’ 


THE END. 














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